Chronic Stress and Caring for Relatives with Dementia

By Marina Pink | January 10, 2019 |

When was the last time you had a real break where you were able to do something completely for you and your own health? If you are a family caregiver for an elderly relative with dementia, that break may have been so long ago that you don’t remember it.

Homecare in La Canada CA: Caregiver Burnout

Caring for someone with cognitive decline takes a toll on the body and the emotions, and it’s easy to develop chronic stress as a result. If you don’t fix your situation by hiring an elderly care provider to help, you will negatively impact your own health and wellness.

Dangers of Chronic Stress

There’s no doubt that it is stressful to take care of an aging adult who has dementia. It’s too easy to put your own needs aside because your aging loved one has so many things that you have to help with. When you lose yourself in serving your elderly relative, you neglect the good things that keep you physically and mentally healthy. Chronic stress that appears in family caregivers results in a syndrome known by medical experts as caregiver burnout.

Because of the constant physical and emotional stress from providing care, family caregivers can suffer from a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, insomnia, heart disease, gastrointestinal distress, and weight gain. They are also more likely to develop anxiety and depression. Over time, this can lead to serious health issues that may even interfere with the ability to care for others. You will be a better caregiver when you take some time every week for yourself after you hire an elderly care provider.

Ways to Manage Stress as a Family Caregiver

Dealing with dementia is extremely hard, because the tasks are so repetitive, and their constant needs can feel overwhelming. Add to that your worry about their health and safety, and it becomes the perfect recipe for chronic stress. It’s challenging enough to care for a senior with only physical issues, but dementia warps their sense of time and place, which means you must handle the most basic tasks on their behalf.

The only way to deal properly with the chronic stress associated with being a caregiver for an elderly relative with dementia is to take regular breaks where you can invest in yourself. This means stepping away from your caregiver duties for a time and focusing on self-care. This could include exercise, socializing with friends, recreation, or even therapy. Even just having the chance for some downtime to read a book, enjoy a walk in the park or start a new hobby will do a lot to alleviate stress.

To get these regular breaks while putting your aging relative’s care into capable hands, you should investigate hiring an elderly care provider. These professionals are experienced and compassionate, and you can find some that have specialized training for dementia clients. Elderly care providers will take care of things with your elderly relative while you are gone so that you can get some respite from the daily stress of caregiving.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in La Canada, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

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Marina Pink

Owner at Home Care Help

Marina Pink is the Owner at Home Care Help. Home Care Help is an innovator in providing services in a caring and professional manner. We have an exceptional history, spanning twenty-three years, of providing care to people in moments that matter most. It is our utmost priority to address every need in a timely manner; and, it is our goal, above all else, to give the level of support that enables our residents to have as much independence as possible with care and respect.