Taking care of the caregiver

The role you have taken on is not an easy one. However, the following tips offer some guidance on how to maintain and improve your caregiving relationship:

Health Tips from Dr. Healy: Video: Exercise your mind and body to fend of Alzheimer's Choose another disease or condition... Allergic Rhinitis Allergies, Food Allergy & Asthma Center Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety Aortic Aneurysms Arrhythmia Arthritis, Osteo- (OA) Arthritis, Rheumatoid (RA) Asthma Atopic Dermatitis Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Back Pain Brain Tumor Bones, Joints & Muscles Center Breast Cancer Brain & Behavior Center Brain Tumor Cancer Center    Brain Tumor    Breast Cancer    Cancer Prevention    Clinical Trials    Colorectal Cancer    Endometrial Cancer    Living With and Beyond Cancer    Lung Cancer    Prostate Cancer    Skin Cancer Cardiomyopathy Cataracts Cholesterol Control Clinical Trials Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Colorectal Cancer Congenital Heart Disease Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Center Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Digestive Disorders Center Eczema Endometrial Cancer Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Eye & Vision Center Fibromyalgia Food Allergies Gallstone Disease Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) GERD Glaucoma Hay Fever Headache Heart Center Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C High Blood Pressure Hypertension Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Impotence Insomnia Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Living With and Beyond Cancer Losing Weight Lung Cancer Macular Degeneration Memory Loss Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoporosis Parkinson's Disease Peptic Ulcer Prediabetes Prostate Cancer Respiratory Disorders Center Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Sexual & Reproductive Health Center Sinusitis Skin Cancer Sleep Apnea Sleep Center Stroke Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Weight Control The miracles of brain repair America's Best Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery See the top five websites for information about Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's patients still benefit from an early diagnosis Alzheimer's Disease-Related Clinical Trials Information Email this page Print this section

• Don't forget about yourself because you're too busy caring for someone else. Make sure you have time to relax. If necessary, enlist the help of other family members or even hire someone to help out. Remember, taking care of yourself is not a luxury. It is an absolute necessity for caregivers. Stay healthy by eating right and getting plenty of exercise and sleep. Do not put your life on hold. Continue to meet with friends, participate in hobbies or groups, and maintain a schedule as normally as possible. You will not only feel more energized, but in the long run you will also be less likely to feel resentful.
• Know your limits, and be honest with yourself about your personal situation. Accept your feelings. Having negative feelings--such as frustration or anger--about your responsibilities or the person for whom you are caring is normal. It does not mean you are a bad person or a bad caregiver.
• Learn as much as you can about Alzheimer's disease so you will know how you can help. You'll also understand what changes to expect in your loved one's behavior or symptoms.
• Set realistic goals for yourself and your loved one. Do not attempt to do everything. By setting attainable goals, you are setting everyone up for success rather than disappointment. Acknowledge that there may come a time when the patient requires nursing services or assisted living outside the family home.
• Help your loved one participate in as many activities in the home and outside the home as possible. Maintain the balance between helping your loved one accomplish a task and actually doing the task yourself. Allow the patient the time needed to complete daily activities, such as dressing, on his or her own.
• Consult your loved one about his or her family affairs. Although it's not easy to discuss these topics, you should be informed of the patient's wishes regarding a living will, durable power of attorney, and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. (see our section on legal documents)
• Have someone you can talk to. You are there for your loved one, to listen and to offer support, but you also need a support person. Find someone you trust--such as a friend, coworker, or neighbor--to talk to about your feelings and frustrations. Also, most therapists, social workers, and clergy members are trained to counsel individuals dealing with a wide range of physical and emotional issues.
• Develop new tools for coping. Remember to lighten up and accentuate the positive. Use humor to help deal with everyday stresses.
• Accept that you may need help with caregiving, and turn to others for help with some tasks. Respite care provides a temporary break for caregivers. This can range from a few hours of in-home care to a short stay in a nursing home or assisted-living facility.

See our section on resources for caregivers