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Alzheimer's caregiving: Maintain your support network
Suggest specific tasks
The next time someone says, "Let me know what I can do to help," offer a couple of concrete suggestions. Perhaps a neighbor could do some yardwork or pick up your groceries. A relative could sort bills or fill out insurance papers. Friends might read a book to your loved one or take him or her for a short walk.
If you feel awkward asking for help, these tips might help:
- Consider abilities and interests. If a friend enjoys cooking, ask him or her to help with meal preparation. A friend who likes to drive might be able to serve as transportation to doctor appointments.
- Prepare a list. Let the helper choose from a variety of things that need to be done. That way, the task may be more suited to his or her interests and time constraints.
- Timing is important. A person who is tired or stressed might automatically refuse a request for help. That doesn't mean he or she wouldn't say yes at another time.
Help from agencies
If you can't get enough help from your friends and relatives, there are agencies that provide personnel to watch your loved one for several hours at a time, either in your home or at a senior center. Counseling services and support groups also can help you cope with your caregiving duties.
Pace yourself
You may have to be your loved one's primary caregiver for more than a decade. Think of the process as more of a marathon than a sprint. Marshal your resources and find every bit of assistance available so that you can conserve your strength for this exhausting journey. In the long run, you'll be helping your loved one as well as yourself.
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- Taking care of you: Self-care for family caregivers. Family Caregiver Alliance. http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=847. Accessed Sept. 24, 2008.
- Parks SM, et al. A practical guide to caring for caregivers. American Family Physician, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001215/2613.html. Accessed Sept. 24, 2008.
