Reducing stress can help those caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s –  Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Alzheimer’s disease caregivers frequently report experiencing high levels of stress. It can be overwhelming to take care of someone living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia, but too much stress can be harmful to both of you. Our resources can help you avoid burnout.

Caregiver Stress

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Alzheimer’s caregivers frequently report experiencing high levels of stress. It can be overwhelming to take care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia, but too much stress can be harmful to both of you. Read on to learn symptoms and ways to avoid burnout.

• 10 symptoms of caregiver stress
• Tips to manage stress

10 symptoms of caregiver stress

Caregiver Stress Check

Alzheimer caregivers frequently report high levels of stress. Take our quiz and get resources to help.

1. Denial about the disease and its effect on the person who has been diagnosed.
   I know Mom is going to get better.
2. Anger at the person with Alzheimer’s or frustration that he or she can’t do the things they used to be able to do.
   He knows how to get dressed — he’s just being stubborn.
3. Social withdrawal from friends and activities that used to make you feel good.
   I don’t care about visiting with the neighbors anymore.
4. Anxiety about the future and facing another day.
   What happens when he needs more care than I can provide?
5. Depression that breaks your spirit and affects your ability to cope.
   I just don’t care anymore.
6. Exhaustion that makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks.
   I’m too tired for this.
7. Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns.
   What if she wanders out of the house or falls and hurts herself?
8. Irritability that leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and actions.
   Leave me alone!
9. Lack of concentration that makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks.
   I was so busy, I forgot my appointment.
10. Health problems that begin to take a mental and physical toll.
    I can’t remember the last time I felt good.

If you experience any of these signs of stress on a regular basis, make time to talk to your doctor.

We Can Help

If you are feeling stressed, get support from family, friends and the resources below:

• Call our 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900
• Locate a support group in your community
• Visit our message boards

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Tips to manage stress

If you experience signs of stress on a regular basis, consult your doctor. Ignoring symptoms can cause your physical and mental health to decline.

• Know what community resources are available.
  Adult day programs, in-home assistance, visiting nurses and meal delivery are just some of the services that can help you manage daily tasks. Use our online Community Resource Finder or contact your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter for assistance in finding Alzheimer’s care resources in your community. Use Alzheimer’s Navigator, our free online tool that helps evaluate your needs, identify action steps and connect with local programs and services.
• Get help and find support.
  Our online Care Team Calendar helps you organize friends and family who want to help provide care and support. Our 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900), ALZConnected online community and local support groups are all good sources for finding comfort and reassurance. If stress becomes overwhelming, seek professional help.
• Use relaxation techniques.
  There are several simple relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress. Try more than one to find which works best for you. Techniques include:
  • Visualization (mentally picturing a place or situation that is peaceful and calm)
  • Meditation (which can be as simple as dedicating 15 minutes a day to letting go of all stressful thoughts)
  • Breathing exercises (slowing your breathing and focusing on taking deep breaths)
  • Progressive muscle relaxation (tightening and then relaxing each muscle group, starting at one end of your body and working your way to the other end)
    Learn more about relaxation techniques on the Mayo Clinic website.

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• Get moving.
  Physical activity — in any form — can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Even 10 minutes of exercise a day can help. Take a walk. Do an activity you love, such as gardening or dancing.
• Find time for yourself.
  Consider taking advantage of respite care so you can spend time doing something you enjoy. Respite care provides caregivers with a temporary rest from caregiving, while the person with Alzheimer’s disease continues to receive care in a safe environment. Learn more about respite care.
• Become an educated caregiver.
  As the disease progresses, new caregiving skills may be necessary. The Alzheimer’s Association offers programs to help you better understand and cope with the behaviors and personality changes that often accompany Alzheimer’s. You may also find it helpful to talk to other care partners and caregivers about how they are coping with the challenges of the disease and uncertainty about the future.
• Take care of yourself.
  Visit your doctor regularly. Try to eat well, exercise and get plenty of rest. Making sure that you are healthy can help you be a better caregiver.
• Make legal and financial plans.
  Putting legal and financial plans in place after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is important so that the person with the disease can participate. Having future plans in place can provide comfort to the entire family. Many documents can be prepared without the help of an attorney. However, if you are unsure about how to complete legal documents or make financial plans, you may want to seek assistance from an attorney specializing in elder law, a financial advisor who is familiar with elder or long-term care planning, or both. Learn more about planning ahead.

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Top Resources

• Take Care of Yourself (PDF)
• Being a Healthy Caregiver
• Support Groups
• Respite Care
• ALZConnected Online Community

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“Managing Multiple Medications with Dementia: How to Get the Most from Your Medications” – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care“Managing Multiple Medications with Dementia: How to Get the Most from Your Medications” – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Polypharmacy, or the use of multiple medications and supplements at the same time, is a special concern for people with dementia. Join us for a free live webinar on April 3 at 11 am or 1 pm with Demetra Antimisiaris, PharmD, CGP, FASCP and learn about balancing the benefits with the side-effects of medications commonly prescribed for people with

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Give monthly and receive a gift. – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

You understand that this terrible disease claims more lives than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. And you know the Alzheimer’s Association must work steadily to provide care and support services and advance critical research every single month.
That’s why I’m inviting you to join a very special group of people who’ve made an exceptional personal commitment to this fight. Become a monthly donor today during our Monthly Donor Drive, and you’ll ensure that critical programs get the strong and steady support they need month after month.
You’ll find that monthly giving is easy, efficient and powerful. And you’ll gain the satisfaction of knowing that your monthly commitment is ALWAYS working to make a difference.
Zoltan, this is your chance to have an even bigger impact in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.But our Monthly Donor Drive ends soon. Please take this special opportunity and help lead the way to the first survivor of Alzheimer’s.
We’re counting on your continued generous support of our mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
And when you sign up to be a monthly donor today, you’ll receive an Alzheimer’s Association tote bag as our sincere thank-you for your commitment to the cause. As you use it, I hope you’ll feel pride in the powerful difference you’re making each month in the fight against this disease.
P.S. Science has cured many of the diseases that once troubled the world. We know we can do the same with Alzheimer’s. But it’ll only happen if we each give all that we can through a strong and steady commitment. You can help lead the way by becoming a monthly donor today.

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Advocate fights Alzheimer’s disease for all those struggling – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

John George, 24, is an Alzheimer’s advocate and Alzheimer’s Association AIM Ambassador to Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) despite not having a personal connection to the disease. He’s attending the 2018 Alzheimer’s Association AIM Advocacy Forum to continue being part of the movement that’s making a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

John George

John George, 24, lives in Weehawken, New Jersey, and works in investment management. He’s an advocate and Alzheimer’s Association AIM Ambassador to Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) despite not having a personal connection to the disease.

Why do you fight for this cause without having experienced it with a family member?

In January 2017, I was parsing through the news and came across a headline about a person living with Alzheimer’s. His wife recorded a video asking him questions about what it’s like to live with the disease. During this four-minute video, he broke down and cried, saying that he wished his friends would come around like they used to, and joke and hang out him. I saw a man in his mid-60s crying because he recognized the stranglehold the disease had on his mind. This man dedicated his life to serving others as a teacher for 27 years. He made millions of memories with his wife, now his caregiver, and those memories were at risk of being taken away, one by one, until none remained. I couldn’t believe that one disease had done so much damage to so many different lives across the country and the world. Later that day, I chased down the contact information of Katie Macklin, senior director of Advocacy and executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter; luckily, she was covering the state of New Jersey as well, and they were in need of an Ambassador in Rep. Albio Sires’ district.

What are some of the activities you’ve taken part in as an Alzheimer’s Ambassador?

Since I became an Alzheimer’s Ambassador, I’ve participated in the District-Forum-District program, which consists of two meetings in New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District and one meeting in Washington, D.C., with my representative’s staff. I was also given the chance to host a film screening of an Alzheimer’s documentary for The Longest Day® in 2017. It was attended by advocates, friends, family and staff members from local, state and federal legislative offices. Finally, I attended the State Advocacy Days arranged in our state capital, Trenton.

What’s been the most positive aspect of your involvement?

It was attending the 2017 Advocacy Forum, the most inspiring three-day period of my entire life. The first two days were peppered with stories from caregivers and individuals living with Alzheimer’s, as well as technical talks on public policy and scientific advances. Although these stories were heartbreaking, it helped me understand why we fight so hard. Leaving that Advocacy Forum was bittersweet. Once I returned to my home district, those stories re-energized my advocacy efforts.

How do you feel your advocacy efforts have helped the cause?

I believe I’ve motivated young advocates around me to join the fight. It’s extremely important to engage the younger generation. Most of the representatives and decision-makers rely heavily on technology as a medium to communicate with their constituents. Young advocates were born into this environment and hold many skills likely to effectively reach elected representatives. If I can continue to generate interest from that demographic, I’ll be extremely satisfied.

How important is a diverse group of advocates to the success of the cause?

It’s very important. As we all know, everyone has a different story and a different experience with the disease. Certain demographics are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than other demographics. Without all of these voices involved in the nationwide conversation toward finding a cure, we won’t make any advances. The efforts to combat the disease need to accurately represent the population affected by the disease.

You mentioned how inspiring your first Advocacy Forum experience was. What exactly did you find so inspiring?

The stories from caregivers and people living with Alzheimer’s. The numbers are easy to understand; the everyday stories, much less. I quickly realized, within a month of becoming an Alzheimer’s Ambassador, that the struggles of the more than 5 million Americans living with the disease are never-ending. We always hear that there’s no cure or treatment to slow down the advancement of the disease, but when I had the chance to listen to how this affects the daily lives of people living with it, and their committed caregivers, it broke my heart. It forced me to take stock of the blessings I have today and develop a healthy respect for the power of the human mind.

Did you have anything that stood out as a favorite moment?

My favorite part of the Advocacy Forum was meeting people from all over the country, with different backgrounds, that chose to come together for a cause that touched each and every person in the room. During the Forum, we were still in a very contentious political climate. We put all of that aside and talked to each other, not as if they were across the political aisle but as if they were family.

Did you attend Hill Day? What was that like?

As someone who’s always been fascinated by how government works and the power of the people to get things done in Congress, witnessing and playing an active role in talking to Sen. Booker, Sen. Menendez and many other members of Congress was like a fever dream for me. Finding out later that our legislative and research funding asks were met validated the entire experience and reinforced the idea that when people come together for a cause, change happens.

What more do you think needs to be done to fight Alzheimer’s, and what role will our advocates continue to play?

We need a considerable amount of research funding. Without that, we’ll struggle to find a cure. Alzheimer’s advocates, including myself, will stop at nothing to keep fighting for increased funding at the National Institutes of Health, regardless of budgetary threats.

What would you say to someone who was considering attending the Advocacy Forum but maybe wasn’t sure?

It’s a life-changing experience. I usually listen to music when I’m on long drives. Last year after the Forum, as I made my way back to New Jersey from D.C., I drove in silent, deep thought about those lives that were forever affected, but not defined, by the disease.

How optimistic are you that the Forum can play an integral part in making Alzheimer’s a national priority?

I’m very optimistic because I’ve seen first-hand that this type of advocacy works. We’re receiving national and global attention. Each presidential candidate from the 2016 cycle mentioned Alzheimer’s during their campaigns. Bill Gates has committed millions in funding. We had landmark legislation passed already this year. We have momentum right now, and if we continue to come together to detail our plans for success, we have a better chance of making Alzheimer’s a national priority.

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A powerful way to give – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com 

It may come as a surprise to you that Alzheimer’s disease claims more lives than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. The urgent fight to end this terrible disease is one that requires our strongest leadership month after month.
That’s why I’m inviting you to join a very special group of people who’ve made an exceptional and personal commitment to putting an end to Alzheimer’s.
Become a monthly donor ?to the Alzheimer’s Association ?today during our Monthly Donor Drive, and you’ll provide strong and steady support of our mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
This is your opportunity to have an even bigger impact on the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts to provide care and support services, and advance critical research.
And you’ll discover, as so many others have learned, that monthly giving is:

• Easy: Your donation is charged to your credit card automatically each month and can be changed at any time.
• Efficient: Monthly giving reduces the need for regular fundraising appeals, so your money goes even further.
• Powerful: Recurring donations help ensure that much-needed services are available to those living with Alzheimer’s, and their families.

Plus, when you sign up to be a monthly donor today, you’ll receive an Alzheimer’s Association tote bag as our sincere thank-you for your commitment to the cause.
Every month, as we grow older, our risk increases. Every month, Alzheimer’s threatens more of our friends and family. But every month, critical progress continues in our fight. Please make a monthly commitment of your own. And there’s no better time than today during our Monthly Donor Drive, when you can receive a tote bag in appreciation for your support.

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