What Caregivers Can Do for Themselves
If you're a caregiver of a family member and find that the stress and strain of caregiving is taking a toll on your physical and mental health, you can take many steps to reducing health risks. Whatever step you take first toward managing long-term stress doesn't matter. What is important is taking that first step. The next step will be easier and so on.
Why Don’t Caregivers Take Better Care of Themselves?
More awareness of and response to the health impacts of caregiving need to be addressed by physicians of caregivers and the caregivers themselves. We also need a greater appreciation of the mind-body interaction in caregiving, and greater weight given to the seriousness of caregiver depression.
What Caregivers Can Do for Themselves
Jan 12th
If you’re a caregiver of a family member and find that the stress and strain of caregiving is taking a toll on your physical and mental health, you can take many steps to reducing health risks. Whatever step you take first toward managing long-term stress doesn’t matter. What is important is taking that first step. The next step will be easier and so on.
Carol Levine, director of the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund in New York, offers the following steps toward healthier living with long-term caregiver stress:
- Take stock of your strengths and acknowledge your limits. Recognize what you’re doing well can help you deal with the aspects of caregiving you find most troubling.
- Analyze the sources of your stress. Is it th edeteriorating health of your family member, financial issues, isolation, comteting family or work responsibilities, dealing with bureaucracies, or lack of time for yourself?
- Take a problem-solving approach to each source of stress. What can be done to ease that particular strain?
- Enlist others in the solution. Depending on the problem, seek the support of another family member, a trusted friend, social worker, physician, nurse, therapist, home care aide, financial adviser, lawyer, or religious leader. Some solutions will be temporary or incomplete; accept that and move forward.
- Follow a diet and exercise program that is feasible and satisying.
- Learn some breathing techniques to use when you feel tired or overwhelmed. “Take a deep breath” is always good advise for any reason; it gets oxygen to your brain.
- Try to find an outlet for your won interests, creativity, and individuality. You had a life before caregiving; what were the things you liked to do? Try to find a way to do them again, even in a limited way. What were the tings you always wanted to do? Try to find a way to start. There will be a life after caregiving, and these activities will help you then as well as now.
- Develop your spiritual side, whether that is through prayer, meditation, nature, art, literature, msic or whatever takes your thoughts to a different plane.
It is hard to put such plans into action. But every small step makes a big difference.
Why Don’t Caregivers Take Better Care of Themselves?
Jan 12th
Since the stress of long-term caregiving can lead to many health risks, one might ask: Why don’t caregivers take better care of themselves? Caregivers give many reasons why they choose to focus only on their caregiving.
Some reasons caregivers offer:
- The higher priority is my [parent's, spouse's] health condition.
- It’s self-indulgent to spend time on myself when my loved one is suffering.
- I don’t have time.
- I can’t leave [parent, spouse] alone and nobody can take over for me during the day.
- Why should I go to the doctor? She’ll only tell me to do things I can’t do, and to stop doing things I have to.
Depression in caregivers may also be a contributing factor. Caregivers are more likely to be despressed than non-caregivers. The depression can make it difficult to take positive steps toward self-help, eating right, and exercise. This can lead to a vicious cycle: because they are depressed, caregivers can’t act; because they cannot act, their depression deepens.
More awareness of and response to the health impacts of caregiving need to be addressed by physicians of caregivers and the caregivers themselves. We also need a greater appreciation of the mind-body interaction in caregiving, and greater weight given to the seriousness of caregiver depression.
If you find yourself in the role of a caregiver saying something similar to one or more of the above statements, don’t wait any longer to care for your health. Think of yourself as a pitcher pouring your health, love, and energy into your loved one. What will happen when the pitcher runs dry? Your care of your loved one is only as good as your ability to care.
Look into caregiver respite offered by Better Living Home Care. We can help you juggle the needs of your loved one and the health care you deserve. So you can begin to focus on your health, contact us today for a free in-home consultation.
The Impact of Long-term Stress on Caregivers
Jan 12th
Caregiving and stress go hand-in-hand. All devoted and loving caregivers experience some level of stress. For some it is the stress of watching a family member’s physical or cognitive health deteriorate; for others the stress comes from financial worries while others experience stress by having to deal with the bureaucratic mazes of the healthcare system. These are only a few examples of stressful situations that family caregivers across the nation are facing daily.
How stress impacts the caregiver’s health can result in serious illnesses that can drastically hinder the ability to care for a loved one.
Stress is more than an emotion; it is the body’s response to danger. Muscles tense, adrenaline flows, and heart rate increases so that the body is ready for flight or fight mode. It is basic survival mode. Yet long periods in this heightened physical response creates relentless pressure and strain on the body. Caregiving for a family member with a deteriorating condition like Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s Disease is prime example of long-term stress.
Caregivers enduring long-term stress face several health consequences. Studies have shown that stress weakens the immune system which makes caregivers vulnerable to illnesses like the flu. The impact of stress on the immune system can also cause vaccines to work less effectively and slow the healing process of wounds. Furthermore, stress can exacerbate chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis.
Add to stress the muscle and joint strain of certain physical tasks that go into caregiving, poor diet, and lack of sleep and exercise, caregivers are faced with a mountain of health risks. In severe cases, caregivers are at risk of heart attacks, stroke, or even death.
In a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Dec. 15, 1999), Richard Schulz and Scott Beach found that elderly caregivers who reported strain were 63% more likely to die than their non-caregiving peers. Some caregivers die while their ill family member lives on.
If you’re a caregiver who is elderly or in poor health, you deserve respite. Better Living Home Care can step in and care for your loved one when you need to rest, strengthen your physical and mental, or simply perform the aspects of caregiving that are unmanageable.
Don’t risk your and your loved one’s health. Get the help you both require. Contact Better Living Home Care to schedule a free in-home consultation.
Spouses Who Provide Care to Partners with Parkinson’s At Risk
Jan 7th
A ten-year study*, conducted by the Oregon Health Science University, has suggested that spouses that are caregivers for a partner with Parkinson Disease are at risk of developing a decline in physical and mental health.
Participants in the study were first studied in 1992 and 1994, lived across North America and cared for a loved one who was in the early stages of Parkinson’s. Extensive research was picked up again in 2002 and the following findings were discovered:
- Caregivers caring for a spouse with Parkinson’s Disease over a ten-year period were at increased risk for negative health and strain. Health and well-being significantly deteriorated, while strain from caregiving significantly increased.
- Quality of relationship and caregiver poorer health effected caregiver strain and well-being.
- Of the people with Parkinson’s residing in assisted living facilities, 55% had dementia compared with only 8% of those who remained at home.
- Depression requiring professional treatment was present in 20% o f the entire caregiver sample. Depression in caregivers of patients in assisted living facilities was over twice (55%) that of those in bereaved or ongoing care groups.
These findings suggest that caregiving for a spouse with Parkinson’s Disease for many years can lead to depression, health problems, and strain. It also emphasized the need to help families through community services such as in home care by professional caregivers, respite caregivers, and emotional support groups.
If you are caring for a spouse with Parkinson’s, know that your care is only as good as your health and well-being. Better Living Home Care can give you the support and relief you need to maintain your health and reduce strain.
Contact us today for a FREE IN HOME CONSULTATION.
(* The data from this study was conducted by Karen Lyons, Julie Carter, Barbara Stewart, and Patricia Archbold and was taken from the Official Journal of the National Parkinson Foundation Vol. XV, Issue 4, Fall 2004. This study is still being analyzed.)
Parkinson’s Disease Knows No Barriers
Oct 14th
It is impossible (as of today) to predict who will get Parkinson’s disease. Medical researchers still do not fully understand the causes of Parkinson’s. A combination of health factors both genetic and environmental may be the culprits. Men and women can be afflicted with Parkinson’s. The disease seems to know no social or geographic boundaries. Research results regarding whether certain ethnic groups or regions of the world are more susceptible to Parkinson’s disease are difficult to interpret in light of regional and ethnic variations in access to health care, perceptions of illness, and mortality. At this time it seems all people have the same chances of falling victim to Parkinson’s disease.
Even age does not seem to be a good enough indicator as there is a wide variation. In very few cases, Parkinson’s has developed in individuals before the age of 20 and others not until after age 90. Many people over the age of 50 are most often afflicted by Parkinson’s. The average age of onset is 60. As physicians become more adapt at watching for and distinguishing signs of Parkinson’s disease, more cases of “early-onset” are being discovered. Most “early onset” is estimated to develop between the ages of 30 and 50 with an estimated 5 to 10 percent of known patients under the age of 40.
Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be attributed to other causes such as aging, exhaustion, stress, progressive supranuclear palsy, and the use of certain drugs. Since many other diseases have similar features, diagnosing the disease can be difficult. Neurological examination and sometimes brain scans can aide in making a precise diagnosis. Consult your neurologist for a neuropsychological consultation if you suspect certain signs of those related to Parkinson’s.
Home Health Care Defined
Oct 14th
Home health care and home care represent services that promote health, provide assistants with essential daily living, or offer medical advice. These services are usually provided by professional health care personnel. The skills and responsibilities of home care personnel vary, but all have one thing in common – making it possible for care recipients to remain safe at home, in an environment that provides them with independence, familiarity, and comfort. Home care recipients include the disabled, mentally disabled, ill, and elderly. Home health care providers include:
Homemakers – provide personal services such as toileting, dressing, and bathing.
Companions – provide essential skills such as making meals, light cleaning, transportation, as well as mental stimulation.
Registered Nurses – provide skilled medical care, including monitoring vital signs, dressing wounds, and teaching family caregivers how to use complicated equipment.
Caregivers – can be professional aids or family members who provide much of the same services as homemakers and companions.
Therapists – provide rehabilitation care to restore or maintain speech, motor, and cognitive skills.
Home Health Care Guidance
When considering whether home care is right for you or your loved one, there are several things you need to consider and know before making your choice.
- Are there any objections to home health care? There are many care recipients who object to the idea of home care. If you encounter opposition try to understand what issues may be the cause of the refusal. It is important for all involved to understand and be comfortable with the idea of letting someone else take on the tasks you’ve been doing yourself.
- Define your needs. What will be the home care provider’s tasks? Answering this question will tell you what type of home health care personnel you need.
- Find out what monetary assistance you may qualify for. When all parties agree and you understand the type of care needed, the next question is how much will the care cost and if the cost is covered by insurance and/or government programs. Review your insurance benefits and look into state funded programs. The sad truth is that most home care costs will have to be paid by you so make sure you can afford the services.
Dementia in Parkinson’s Disease
Oct 13th
Cognitive changes such as dementia are common in Parkinson’s disease. For most of us “dementia” is a very scary word, so I’d like to make clear that although such a cognitive impairment is common, not all those with Parkinson’s necessarily experience dementia. Parkinson’s disease dementia is less likely in early onset disease, tremor onset patients, and where significant depression is absent. However, because patients with Parkinson’s disease are about six times more likely to suffer from dementia than those without Parkinson’s, it is a good idea to pay close attention and watch for signs of dementia, as some medical treatment may be needed. Therefore, a clear understanding of what “dementia” is will follow.
What Dementia Is:
Dementia is a disturbance in intellectual function that interferes greatly with essential aspects of life and progressively worsens over time. The typical profile of Parkinson’s disease dementia consists of:
declining ability to reason,
slowed mental processing,
dramatic lapses in memory,
worsening visual-spatial construction
and trouble maintaining attention.
The various types of dementias that can occur in patients with Parkinson’s may overlap and co-occur, making them hard to distinguish. Neurological exams and neuropsychological assessments may help pinpoint and ascertain the different dementias. Conventional segmentation has divided dementia into two types: cortical and subcortical. Cortical dementia is typically found with Alzheimer’s disease and characterized by profound memory problems early on. Subcortical dementia is a slowing of cognitive processing, forgetfulness, apathy, and retrieval difficulties early on.
When watching for signs of Parkinson’s disease dementia, it is appropriate to worry, but try not to become alarmed. Cognitive changes do not automatically suggest the onset of dementia. If you are suspicious of certain behaviors, consult your neurologist for a neuropsychological consultation. It is painless, detailed, and can uncover factors that may be the cause of cognitive changes.
Choose the Right Home Health Care Agency
Oct 13th
Home health care agencies are a valuable resource of respite care, assistance, and knowledge. Home care is designed to meet various needs. Since home health care is a service that ranges from professional medical assistance to personal aide, not all home care agencies offer the same services. Once you have a good understanding of your needs, it’s time to start searching for a home care agency that meets all the services you require. Below is a list of questions you can ask home health care agencies as you determine which one is right for you.
Questions to Ask Home Care Agencies
- How long has the home care agency serviced your community?
- Are caregiver references available?
- Does the home care agency perform background checks on their caregivers?
- Does the home care agency provide an assessment or consultation to determine if home health care is appropriate for the care recipient?
- Do you have the flexibility to change caregivers if there is a lack of compatibility or if the care recipient’s health care needs change?
- How does the home care agency choose their caregivers?
- Does the home care agency meet all of your caregiving needs?
- Can you receive literature explaining the home care agency’s services, fees, and conditions?
- Will the home care agency include the care recipient and family when developing a care plan?
- Can the home care agency offer help to coordinate and assist the family by filling in around job schedules, travel plans, or other responsibilities?
- Can the home care agency ensure recipient confidentiality?
- Does the home care agency offer payment plan options?
- What resources does the agency provide to help you get financial assistance, if needed?
- How does the home care agency staff respond to your first (and second) call?
- What is the home care agency’s procedure for resolving complaints?
- How soon can you receive home health care services?
- What are the responsibilities and procedures of the emergency home care agency and caregiver in case of an emergency?
When you have found a home health care agency that is reliable and suits your needs, be sure to monitor the care provided. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you have regarding the care you are receiving.
If you have any questions regarding home health care, contact A Better Living Home Care. We have a caring staff and qualified caregivers who are ready to assist you with your needs.