By Robert Preidt
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 2020 (HealthDay Information) — The coronavirus pandemic makes the vacations much more troublesome for caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s disease and different types of dementia, an skilled says.
“Even in the perfect of occasions, holidays is usually a blended bag for households who’re caring for a beloved one with an age-related sickness that causes bodily and psychological adjustments. Deal with household togetherness and pleasure,” stated Mary Catherine Lundquist, program director of Care2Caregivers, a peer counseling helpline for caregivers of individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s illness.
The helpline is operated by Rutgers College Behavioral Well being Care in New Jersey.
“Individuals coping with vital diseases resembling Alzheimer’s disease could also be experiencing different emotions, resembling unhappiness, fear and even exhaustion. Typically the perfect present we can provide to one another is to be current,” Lundquist suggested in a Rutgers information launch.
With journey frowned upon due to the pandemic, it might not be doable to see your family in individual. However you may nonetheless attain out. “Test in along with your aged relations, particularly those that are caregivers. Ask them how they’re doing after which actually pay attention. Be nonjudgmental and acknowledge what they’re sharing,” she urged.
“Pay attention for what they really want, not for what you suppose they want — after which supply it,” Lundquist stated. “Dropping off groceries, fixing a damaged fence put up, calling just a few occasions every week to simply chat could also be the perfect presents. Writing a letter telling them what you imply to them and the way they’ve impacted your life is an excellent present they’ll learn repeatedly.”
Lundquist additionally provided recommendation on serving to individuals who have a beloved one in a nursing house or who misplaced a beloved one this 12 months.
“Name them to examine in, ship a handwritten word, drop off flowers or ship a textual content to say ‘pondering of you,’ which can assist ease loneliness and social isolation. Allow them to know that simply because their beloved one shouldn’t be in the home with them anymore, they don’t seem to be forgotten,” she stated.
Even if you cannot see folks in individual, join with them over the telephone, by textual content or by means of social media, Lundquist urged.
Extra info
The American Academy of Household Physicians presents recommendation on caregiver health and wellness.
SOURCE: Rutgers College, information launch, Dec. 2, 2020
