Finding Peace of Mind in Dementia Care | Managing Caregiver Stress

In collaboration with Rachael Wonderlin, Dementia By Day, Consultant to Source of Life Technologies

I work with caregivers on an everyday basis. I talk with them on the phone, I offer caregiving advice in support groups, I meet caregivers at weddings and baby showers, I receive emails from care partners asking for help or commenting on my blog posts. Everywhere, every time, care partners are fighting one battle or another. They bear an incredible amount of weight on their shoulders because they have their own lives to manage on top of caring for another person. Whether it is at home or in a dementia care community, caring for someone living with dementia can take a toll. Fortunately, there are ways to combat and cope with the stress of caregiving.

​One piece of advice I always give care partners is, “Don’t do this alone.” People are often shocked when they hear me say this. “But if I don’t care for my loved one living with dementia, who will?” they ask. I am not suggesting that you must hand over care to someone else entirely, but assistance, guidance, and support are out there and you should make use of it. 

Source of Life Technologies is sponsoring a webinar with me in May on exactly this topic. We’ll be talking about anticipatory grief, ambiguous loss, and much, much more.

Know that there are also a multitude of free online services that have sprung up, especially since the pandemic started in 2020, that are available for caregivers. I myself host regular, free support groups online for my readers and listeners. Care partners often feel alone, as if they are the only one experiencing the pressure and stress from caregiving. But you are not alone; there are many caregivers out there in the world, who feel the same as you.

REMEMBER: YOU ARE IMPORTANT, TOO

​Being a perfect caregiver does not mean devoting yourself 24 hours a day, seven days a week to your parent, partner, child, or friend’s care. It means that you can ensure that he is safe and comfortable even if you are not by his side. This may mean bringing in a home-care agency, choosing a dementia care community, using an adult-day-care center, or one of several other options.

SUPPORT GROUPS AND EDUCATION

​There is a good chance that there is a support group for care partners in your area. Sometimes caregivers hear the words “support group” and feel guilty, thinking they don’t or shouldn’t need support for their own sake—they just need it for their loved one with dementia! Think of it this way: Your loved one has you. You need someone, too.

​Libraries, churches, a Web search, or a quick call to your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association can help you find support groups in your area. Some support groups are held in care communities, but are open to anyone who wants to join. Others are held in local restaurants, at the local library, or religious centers. Support groups often bring in speakers to promote education in dementia caregiving.

​Sometimes care partners want more information about caregiving, but aren’t sure where to look. I offer online dementia learning classes, where you can learn at your own pace. Check your newspaper for local events, such as speakers on dementia, or call your local agency on aging and ask about what is available in your area.   

From senior care fall strategies to online engagement and mobile app opportunities, healthcare shouldn’t be reactive - it should be proactive. Doors have been opened to on-demand healthcare and it turns out the overwhelming majority of patients, physicians, families and therapists want to continue down that path. The decision to modernize your senior care strategies is a big one and doesn’t happen overnight.  Talk to the Source of Life Technologies team for the guidance and direction you need to make the change in your organization or home.