Alzheimer's caregivers often experience high levels of stress, which can harm mental and physical well-being. Caregivers are at risk for depression and can develop other stress-related health conditions. Read on to learn seven common signs of caregiver stress and how the Alzheimer's Association can help.
Signs of Caregiver Stress
- Anxiety: Trouble sleeping or often feeling worried about finances, healthcare decisions, and other future caregiving needs.
- Denial. Difficulty facing the effect of dementia on your family or believing your loved one will recover.
- Exhaustion. Having a hard time focusing, feeling tired all the time or like you will never get to everything you have to do.
- Frustration. Irratibility when the person can't do simple tasks like getting dressed or repeats themselves often.
- Health problems. New mental or physical health problems related to your stress and caregiving role.
- Sadness. Feeling grief or sadness about the diagnosis, the change in your relationship with your loved one, or other aspects of the disease.
- Social withdrawal. Less interest in seeing friends and doing activities you used to enjoy.
Caregiving support
The Alzheimer's Association can help in two ways: 1) tackling the sources of caregiver stress and 2) working with you to identify self-care strategies to improve your well-being.
Our care consultants will discuss your specific caregiving challenges and resources available in your community to help. They can also help you think through and plan for future caregiving challenges and offer many stress-reduction options to try. We know every caregiver is unique so we offer support tailored to your situation. To schedule a meeting, call our office at 518.867.4999 and we'll put you in touch with your local dementia specialist.