4 Stress Management Tips for Dementia Caregivers

 

Many families initially choose to deal with a parent’s dementia in their home. Over time, it can become overwhelming to take care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Not to mention, too much stress can be harmful to both you and your senior loved one.

Our team at United Methodist Communities HomeWorks has put together a list of caregiver burnout signs and tips to manage stress successfully.

6 signs of caregiver stress you shouldn’t ignore

1. Feelings of anger and frustration – These negative feelings can be expressed towards your loved one, towards other people in your life or even inwardly towards yourself. Stress causes us to feel more impatient and more frustrated, and can make us lash out in ways we wouldn’t normally allow.
2. Social withdrawal – Caregivers under a lot of stress often withdraw from activities they usually love. If you find yourself not wanting to see friends or indulge in your favorite hobbies, then you may be suffering from significant caregiver stress.
3. Depression and anxiety – Caring for a loved one with a terminal condition is not easy, and feeling sad and anxious is normal sometimes. However, if you are constantly feeling down and you cannot see a way out, it’s important to seek professional help.
4. Exhaustion – If you are feeling constantly fatigued, as if you have no energy to get through the day or even get out of bed, then you are likely suffering from extreme burnout.
5. Weight gain or loss – When you spend more time caring for someone else and less time caring for yourself, it’s easy for your nutrition to suffer. If you’re finding it impossible to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, then you may be under too much strain as a caregiver.
6. Physical ailments – Another important symptom not to ignore is when your own health starts to suffer. Common ailments linked to caregiver burnout include frequent headaches and body pain. 

4 techniques for stress management for dementia caregivers

1. Use relaxation techniques – Try to incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily life. This can include meditation for 10 minutes a day, breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation (consciously taking note of where tension is and relaxing each set of muscles), and positive visualization.
2. Introduce physical exercise – Physical exercise is one of the very best stress management tools available. It releases endorphins, reduces blood pressure, lowers cortisol (stress hormone) levels, boosts your mood and benefits your overall health. Choose something you enjoy, and it won’t feel like work! 
3. Join local support groups – Being a family caregiver isn’t just stressful, it can be lonely too. Many family caregivers feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, and joining a support group can help alleviate this burden. You’re not alone in this, and support groups are a great resource for getting advice and sharing your experience with people who truly understand what you are going through.
4. Give yourself a break – There is more to life than being a family caregiver, but it’s easy for the role to take over. In the long run, however, this isn’t going to help you or your loved one! Taking a break, whether it’s to get your hair done, watch a movie, or to have quality time with your family is important.

It’s essential to your own wellbeing, and it will help you to be a better caregiver too. You could also look to hire a respite caregiver who has experience with older adults with dementia. Respite caregivers are trained to give your loved one the support and care they need, while you’re taking some much-deserved “me-time.”

In-home respite care services for seniors and family caregivers in NJ

UMC HomeWorks provides highly qualified at-home care services for older adults across the state of  New Jersey. In addition to assisting with daily tasks, errands and light housekeeping, our home health aides are fully trained in providing memory care and skilled nursing care in line with the latest COVID-19 guidelines. 

If you would like to find out more about our in-home respite or memory care services in NJ, contact us today and let one of our home health aides deliver the exceptional care and companionship that your loved one deserves. You can also visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/live-in-care-new-jersey/ 

Originally published: https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/4-stress-management-tips-for-dementia-caregivers/

4 Signs Caregivers Can Benefit from Senior Home Health Care Services

As a leading senior home health care services provider, we know all the challenges and joys of providing care to the elderly. And while this work is a wonderful opportunity to support seniors and give back, there’s no disguising that it’s a tough job.

For family caregivers, this job can be even tougher because of their close, personal connections with the loved ones in their care. Here are some signs that a caregiver can benefit from professional assistance:

1. Constant exhaustion. Everyone experiences a busy, difficult day on occasion, when nothing seems to go right, and you end the day feeling exhausted — but this shouldn’t be the norm. Trying to balance caregiving, a job, a family, and your own needs is a massive amount of work and can easily lead to burnout. Having the assistance of a home health aide helps make all these tasks more manageable, even if it’s on a respite basis for a few days a week.
2. You have no time for yourself. If you can’t remember the last time you indulged your own interests, you may be taking on too much. Everyone needs time to watch a movie, go out with friends or unwind with a favorite hobby. It’s not being selfish — it’s essential for caregivers, helping you recharge and de-stress so you can go back to your loved one feeling energized, positive and relaxed.
3. You’re ill. Whether you’re overworking yourself, dealing with multiple sources of stress or simply deal with your own health conditions, being ill and repeatedly falling ill clearly show that caregivers need a break. Not only does being ill yourself put your loved one at risk, it can also signal that stress is taking a toll on your physical wellness. Letting a professional step in and take some of the load off your shoulders will provide essential relief.
4. You’re feeling depressed, anxious and stressed. Caregiving is a mentally and emotionally tough role, especially for family caregivers. This can lead to depression, frustration and anxiety about coping with your role. Family caregivers should make the time to attend support groups, speak to a therapist and take care of their own mental wellness to avoid caregiver burnout. A qualified home health aide can step in and take care of as much of the work as you need — letting you focus on spending quality time with your loved one.

Affordable Short and Long-Term Senior Home Health Care Services in New Jersey 

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best quality senior home health care services through our HomeWorks program. Our team of certified and experienced home health aides are passionate about assisting the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. In addition to medical care and daily home care, we also offer pastoral care for spiritual and emotional support in the home.

For more information on our senior home health care services or to find a qualified home health aide in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/home-respite-care-services-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/4-signs-caregivers-can-benefit-from-senior-home-health-care-services/

5 Essential Qualities to Look for When Hiring a Senior Home Healthcare Aide

Finding and interviewing caregivers to care for an elderly loved one can be a challenging experience. Many people are unsure of a what to look for in a home health aide, whether the costs are justified, or even if their loved one will work well with the new caregiver. On top of that, it’s often a very emotional and stressful time.

Here are some qualities to look for in your candidates that will get your hiring process off to a great start, from our senior home health care services team in NJ:

1. This doesn’t just mean how long they’ve worked in the industry. Different caregivers specialize in varied areas, and you want to make sure that they can handle their new position. They should have knowledge, skills and experience to manage your loved one’s unique situation, whether it’s a health condition, if they need post-operative care, or specific help around the home.
2. Your candidate should have successfully undergone the training and certifications required for the position under your state guidelines as a minimum requirement for the job. It’s a great sign if your candidate has continued their training above this level to gain additional skills – especially if they are something your loved one may need in future.
3. The get-along factor. Your loved one and the caregiver will be spending a lot of time together and it’s very important that they are a good fit for each other. Your loved one needs to be able to trust the caregiver and build a healthy relationship. Look out for candidates that are nurturing, as well as professional and show an interest in your loved one not just as a patient, but as a person.
4. Strong communication skills. You and your family need to rely on the caregiver to keep in touch with you about any changes in condition or care plan, as well as assist with managing doctors’ appointments if needed. Strong communication skills will give you essential peace of mind.
5. Supportive and encouraging. Great caregivers see their position as more than a job — they really get invested and interested in their assignment. A motivated and compassionate caregiver ensures a high care standard and helps keep your loved one as active and independent as possible.

Qualified, Dedicated Caregivers for the Best At Home Care for the Elderly in NJ 

United Methodist Communities’ HomeWorks, one of the state’s leading home health aide agencies, strives to offer the very best home health aide services in New Jersey. This program assists the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our in-home health care agency or our residential in-home respite care in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/elderly-home-health-care-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-essential-qualities-to-look-for-when-hiring-a-senior-home-healthcare-aide/