Caregiving

Caregiving - it seems like an endless, thankless, frustrating job. But it can also be rewarding, fulfilling, and exhilarating! When you find yourself in a caregiver role, there are some simple things you can do to make it easier on yourself and the person you care for.

1. Always approach the person with humor and remember that caregiving requires creativity and thoughtfulness on your part. Let the person know that they are loved and cared for unconditionally - in most cases, particularly with Alzheimer's patients, they are unable to give back anything, including thankfulness.
2. Try to find the good things in the person and the situation. It's hard to always do this with the day to day work associated with caregiving, but it is more likely that it will happen when you practice positive thinking and positive self-talk.
3. Allow the person to do things that make him/her feel good - even if they seem useless and mundane to you. For example, if a person enjoys continually straightening the sheets around them, then let them do this. If they enjoy rubbing the pages of a book without reading them, that's fine. Familiarity often results in contentment for a person who is in this situation.
4. Try to determine the best times for the person to participate in conversation or activities. Some patients are better in the morning while others are more alert in the afternoon. Use these times wisely and be patient with the person as they participate in activities. Don't rush the patient or yourself during this time - use it for relaxation and strengthening your relationships, or just sitting quietly together.
5. Determine when the person is LESS likely to be cooperative and alert. Practice extra patience during these times and don't plan activities or things that require the person to engage or participate more than necessary.
6. Keep the house or place where they are staying light and airy. Open blinds or curtain to allow sunshine to come in, though not directly on the person which may annoy and agitate them. As evening approaches, start turning on lamps and keep lighting constant to help avoid "sundown syndrome" which can create anxiety in an older person.
7. Hang soothing watercolor pictures or family photos where they can easily be seen. Familiar surroundings are important to the person and will help them to feel more comfortable and restful. If they enjoyed the beach when they were younger, hang a picture of the beach for them to see - they'll enjoy talking about memories.
8. Music is a powerful tool for most people - particularly Alzheimer's patients. It can soothe and provide serenity to them and can also engage and make them more alert, depending on the person and the music. Singing along is often therapeutic to the individual and will elevate the mood of the patient and the caregiver!
If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's, playing music from decades ago and music from an era they will recall, or gospel music, tends to be most effective.
9. Don't rush the person! Rushing them creates anxiety and agitation which you want to avoid. Allow time for bathing, dressing, eating, and other activities so they don't feel time pressure. It will make the task easier for both of you.
10. Most importantly - Take time for yourself and get away occasionally to recharge and rejuvenate yourself. This is important for you and the person you care for. It improves your quality of life and gives you better insights and ability to tackle the tasks ahead of you. Enjoy time with your friends and family away from the patient and participate in activities that interest you when possible - don't shut out others from your life! You will be a better caregiver if you take care of yourself first.

Taking care of someone is a difficult and straining task. But the rewards for your selflessness, compassion, and caring are greatly appreciated whether the person is able to tell you or not. It takes a very special person to be a caregiver and the rewards of fulfillment and thankfulness you will feel are worth the effort.

Additional online resources:

www.caregiver.com
www.caringtoday.com
www.aarp.org/families/caregiving
www.caregiving.org