Yesterday I received a letter from Carer's Australia (Victoria) with some information regarding their various events for Carers.
This group offers assistance for all Carers - people who look after the disabled, mental health sufferers, people with dementia - everybody who has a caring role.
They included a list of the changes that Carers commonly face and it is as follows:
Changes in sleep routines (sleeping more or less than usual, disturbed sleep)
Exhaustion
Little or no motivation (losing interest in things they used to enjoy, struggling with daily chores)
Indecision
Feeling confused or being a little more forgetful
Feeling guilty
Getting angry more than usual especially over little things
Weight gain or loss
Constant or frequent physical complaints (headaches, chronic pain, changes in blood pressure, skin conditions)
Tightness in chest or breathing problems
Other signs:
When the caring role is having a negative impact on close relationships
If others are suggesting that support might be a good idea
If you are struggling to know how or why you should look after yourself
If you are worrying a lot about your future or the future of the person you care for
The letter went on to say that anyone noticing these signs of stress should seek help so I guess that most of us know what these feelings are like. I went through and ticked off any that affected me and had to admit that there were nine items.
My OH is not too bad really compared to others who post here. But it is five years since his troubles began and two years since diagnosis of AD. Along the way he has had a cardiac arrest (at home when I gave him CPR till the ambulance arrived), prostate surgery, an internal bleed and major surgery on a complex hernia. And if you add a layer of OH's paranoia and heart failure, life is not exactly a bed of roses.
So to all of you who cope with patients with more advanced forms of dementia, you have my undying admiration and respect. I have no idea of how you keep going.
This group offers assistance for all Carers - people who look after the disabled, mental health sufferers, people with dementia - everybody who has a caring role.
They included a list of the changes that Carers commonly face and it is as follows:
Changes in sleep routines (sleeping more or less than usual, disturbed sleep)
Exhaustion
Little or no motivation (losing interest in things they used to enjoy, struggling with daily chores)
Indecision
Feeling confused or being a little more forgetful
Feeling guilty
Getting angry more than usual especially over little things
Weight gain or loss
Constant or frequent physical complaints (headaches, chronic pain, changes in blood pressure, skin conditions)
Tightness in chest or breathing problems
Other signs:
When the caring role is having a negative impact on close relationships
If others are suggesting that support might be a good idea
If you are struggling to know how or why you should look after yourself
If you are worrying a lot about your future or the future of the person you care for
The letter went on to say that anyone noticing these signs of stress should seek help so I guess that most of us know what these feelings are like. I went through and ticked off any that affected me and had to admit that there were nine items.
My OH is not too bad really compared to others who post here. But it is five years since his troubles began and two years since diagnosis of AD. Along the way he has had a cardiac arrest (at home when I gave him CPR till the ambulance arrived), prostate surgery, an internal bleed and major surgery on a complex hernia. And if you add a layer of OH's paranoia and heart failure, life is not exactly a bed of roses.
So to all of you who cope with patients with more advanced forms of dementia, you have my undying admiration and respect. I have no idea of how you keep going.
