Don't Do It Alone...

It can be a challenge to manage all your responsibilities when caring for a loved one with dementia or other debilitating illness.  Work, family responsibilities can make a stressful situation almost too much to handle.

The important thing to remember is you don't have to do it alone.

Let your employer know about your situation.  Perhaps they can offer you "flex" time in your schedule.  Maybe you can work from home.  Temporary family leave may also be available.  If your company has one, contact your Employee Assistance Program for information on resources that are available such as Adult Day Services.
Sit down with family members and/or close friends to discuss how they can help.  Try to develope a plan where everyone can contribute.
But no matter how many people--family or friends--contibute to the care, as the primary caregiver you need to adjust and adapt your expectations.  You may find you don't have the time to keep your house as clean as you would like for example.  When you become a caregiver, it is a time of change for everyone.
Caregivers must still make time for themselves.  They must make time to have THEIR needs met.  If you, as a caregiver, do not take proper care of yourself then you can not take proper care of anyone else.
Be sure to utilize all the resources at your disposal.  Contact your Office on Aging, check online resources and join a support group.
There are many things that can help caregivers, but whatever you do...
                              Don't do it alone.

In the coming weeks this blog will offer practical suggestions on dealing with issues that arise when caring for a loved one, with particulpar focus on situations that arise when dealing with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.