Day 6 - Remember Dementia In November

#RememberDementiaInNovember

Day 6 (11/8) – #Sasangasana or #RabbitPose (also known as #HareHeadstand) by @farrahbrown (Farrah)

! This helps to balance both hemispheres of the brain and the third eye chakra (since it is considered a type of inversion) and stimulates both the immune and endocrine systems.

My sponsor related items are: on my right wrist is a beautifully crafted #hematite and #lapislazuli bracelet from @malas_by_  on my left wrist there is a lovely bracelet from @dazzle.dream and in the background, I have some other items from our fabulous list of sponsors.  And as always I am on my @liforme #yogamat (they are not a sponsor, but I adore this mat!!)

#DementiaAwareness – Respite Care; Very Important for Caregivers (Click on link in my bio)

Any of the information presented is NOT to be used as medical advice, please make sure if you suspect your loved one of having symptoms of dementia to seek medical attention.

See @stephieyogini (Steph) for Day 7’s (Wednesday, 11/9) pose tomorrow night

AWARENESS

Day 6 – Respite Care; Very Important for Caregivers

An interesting statistic about caregiving in the United States:  “According to the Family Caregiver Alliance (www.caregiver.org), as of February 2015, 43.5 million Americans were providing informal caregiving for someone age 50 years or older.  Of these caregivers, 14.9 million were caring for someone with AD or other dementia” (American Geriatrics Society, 2016, p.310).

There are many great ideas and tips for caregivers and some may work better with others, the most important tip is that, as a caregiver, you take care of yourself.  You cannot take care of a loved one, if you are not well yourself; whether that is physically, emotionally, or mentally.

There is a website, The Caregiver's Voice, that offers some advice for caregivers.  I am listing it below and there is also a .pdf form, with the link provided at the end of this list so that you can print it out or save it for another time.

           Eight TIPS for Alzheimer’s/dementia caregivers.

The following tips for caregivers include learning as much as you can about Alzheimer’s/ dementia, how to communicate, deal with anger, the importance of taking respite, and using support groups and adult day care. Tip #8 is the most important.

1. Learn about your loved one’s disease, illness, or disability, so you know what to expect. For example, a cognitively impaired person will succeed if you break down tasks into single easy-to-manage steps. If your care recipient repeats a question, answer it as if this is the first time it was asked. If s/he honestly remembered the answer, s/he would not ask.
2. Attend support group meetings or participate online.  Ask questions even if you think you know the answer. You’re not alone. Others are walking the same road. Together you will learn better ways of caregiving.
3. Make direct eye contact, and then meet your loved one where s/he is.  If happy, smile and greet her enthusiastically. If solemn, speak to him in a lower and more calming tone. Touch him and give him a hug, if appropriate.
4. It’s okay to get frustrated and even angry.  Find an appropriate outlet for your feelings. Run in place in another room or outdoors. Call a fellow caregiver. At the very least, STOP and then take a deep breath.
5. Seek respite, even for five minutes.  Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Martyrs are not heroes. Caregiving is like picking up an acorn then lifting the whole oak tree! Consider your options—in-home care, adult day care, residential care, assisted living, skilled nursing, palliative care, and ultimately, hospice.
6. LAUGH. Find the JOY in the smallest things. SMILE.
7. Seek competent professional advice regarding legal, financial, and health care matters.  Then talk with someone you trust about the advice you receive.  Have all your questions answered before you sign anything.
8. Avadian’s DIAMOND TIP for CAREGIVERS: Care for your loved one the way you would want to be cared for IF you were living with the same disease or illness. Repeat the first tip.

          

From: “Where’s my shoes?” My Father’s Walk through Alzheimer’s (2nd ed.)

           by Brenda Avadian, MA TheCaregiversVoice.com (The Caregivers Voice, 2016).

http://thecaregiversvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/8-Tips-for-Caregivers-Avadian.pdf

 

Note:  Many of the larger organizations and foundations require written permission from them for use of their information, even from their websites. Almost a month ago, I had emailed a few of these requesting permission for this awareness event and received no response.  In the last day’s link, you will see many resources listed that you can visit and see more information.

References

American Geriatrics Society (AGS). (2016). Alzheimer's & dementia for dummies. Hoboken, NJ:

           John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (Published simultaneously in Canada)

The Caregivers Voice. (2016). Eight tips for Caregivers. Retrieved November 7, 2016 from

http://thecaregiversvoice.com/resources-links/informative-caregiving-articles/tips-for-caregivers/