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Angela Lunde
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Angela Lunde
Angela Lunde is a dementia education specialist in the education core of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Angela Lunde
The transfer of information about dementias, as well as understanding the need for participation in clinical trials, is an essential component of the education core.
Angela is a member of the Alzheimer's Association board of directors and co-chair of the annual Minnesota Dementia Conference. She is a member of the Dementia Behavior Assessment and Response Team (D-BART), a multidisciplinary outreach service assisting professional and family caregivers in understanding and managing difficult behaviors often present in dementia. She facilitates several support groups, including Memory Club, an early-stage education and support series, and more recently, helped to develop and now deliver Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking (HABIT), a 10-day cognitive rehab and wellness program for people with mild cognitive impairment.
Angela takes a personal interest in understanding the complex changes that take place within relationships and among families when dementia is present. She is particularly interested in providing innovative and accessible ways for people with dementia and their families to receive information and participate in valuable programs that promote well-being.
"Amid a devastating disease, there are tools, therapies, programs and ways to cope, and it is vital that families are connected to these resources," she says.
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Alzheimer's blog
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Dec. 11, 2007
Depression common among caregivers
By Angela Lunde
I am frustrated, full of anger. Sometimes I lose my temper and blow. Then I feel guilty. Even when I don't lose my temper, I feel guilty. I am grouchy. I have lost a sense of who I am these days. I grieve. I am sad and I cry, uncontrollable at times. I do not sleep well. I am lonely and I am fearful. Who am I?
I am the spouse of someone with Alzheimer's.
Does this resonate with you? For some of you, I know it does.
Think about it, many of you 'work' as a caregiver 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. And even if caregiving is something you think you do reasonably well, it can be hard to find satisfaction as a caregiver when your loved one's condition only declines. It is difficult to feel good about yourself when everything around you is unpredictable and unreal. It is tough to feel happy when you can no longer find the time to do the things you enjoy and that bring meaning to your life.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 80 percent of Alzheimer caregivers report that they frequently experience high levels of stress, and nearly half say they suffer from depression. It's not difficult to see why.
All of us certainly experience negative feelings from time to time. But according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, "when these feelings become more intense and leave caregivers totally drained of energy, crying frequently or easily angered by their loved one or other people, it may well be a warning sign of depression."
Many of you have written on this blog and shared concerns about yourself, or expressed support to others related to the challenges of caregiving. I want to offer my genuine appreciation. Circles of support, of all kinds, are incredibly valuable. If you have signs of depression, I hope you seek the medical attention you need.
Depression amongst Alzheimer's caregivers is more common than most of us realize and deserves to be treated with the same attention afforded any other illness.
34 comments posted
December 19, 2007 10:34 a.m.
My heart aches for everyone who is a full time caregiver - I too am one. But the beautiful thing is we know that they are getting the best quality care possible for as long as we are able to give it. My dad was diagnosed 2 years ago with dementia of the ahlzeimers type. My sis and I took turns driving 80 miles a day for over a year to give him meds and see he had good meals - we tried a nursing home - they are wonderful - but the quality of life wasn't there. So now we live with dad full time - it's only been six months - and I wouldn't trade places with anyone - in spite of the ups and downs.
- No name given
December 17, 2007 11:46 p.m.
God bless you Anna! I am a relatively new caregiver. My husband, age 60, is in the moderate stage of frontal temporal dementia. He can't work and I quit my job to take care of him. I already find myself losing patience and it's going to get a lot worse. Sometimes I feel like we are just waiting around for him to die (he doesn't know his prognosis). Then I figure I'll just die right after him. I have to remind myself that God is with me and "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me". It doesn't mean it isn't hard, however. I need to develop more supports, I guess.
- Debby L
December 13, 2007 10:31 a.m.
I left my job because I was working the night shift and they had me taking care of Alzheimer's patients in a locked unit. A little after a year, I got tired of the spitting and biting and throwing feces at me. I hope we find a cure soon.
- Certified Nursing Assistant
December 12, 2007 1:59 p.m.
My mother's mother had Alzheimer among other diseases. She has caregave for more than 20 years. Because of my health I couldn't help her. She really needed someone to give her at least a break perhaps two or three hours four times a week. She was basically was on her own with no one to let her rest. I think all caregivers need some help even if it comes from family, friends and mobile nursing staff and other support could happen if someone could just sit for them while the caregiver can rest.
- Susan Holloway
December 12, 2007 1:50 p.m.
I understood my grandmother had Alzheimer's. My mother didn't have the support she needed. She was basically stuck in the house. She hardly had any social life. If someone could at least find a family member or friend, that would refresh the person is the caregiver. Please respond.
- Susan Holloway
December 12, 2007 1:47 p.m.
How can you prevent alzheimers? I understand coming into to contact with alumium is one cause. What else can be done to avoid alumium and other problems?
- Susan Holloway
December 11, 2007 11:55 p.m.
Angela - I see myself in all that you wrote. When we were in the process of determining my husbands disease (AZ) I cried every time we went to our Dr. Thank God she put me on EFFEXOR, I don't believe in taking med.s but I don't think I could make it without it. I do hope to get off in a few months. This disese is worse than any other, as it robs us all of any sense of normality. We need to find a cure soon! God bless all the caregivers, lets hope our nightmare is worse than our loved ones that have AZ!!!
- Mary
December 11, 2007 8:19 p.m.
My story is a long one and there isn't enough room to tell it all here. This is a brief synopsis. There are 4 people in my household, my husband, my brother, me and my mother. My brother,(63) has brain damage and my mother,(88) has Alzheimer's disease. We are all over 60. Its up to me and my husband to be caregivers for both my mother and brother. My brother has been with us for 18 years and my mother for 14. I'm so tired.
- Anna
December 11, 2007 8:40 a.m.
I can definitely relate to this. I am caring for my mom and have found that it takes a lot of patience, love and understanding to deal with her. I had already been diagnosed with clinical depression several years before I began caregiving so I have to balance my illness with Mom's needs. It's hard and I have to be vigilant to avoid a relapse.
- Robyn
34 comments posted