Caregivers are you Nourishing your Mind, Body & Spirit?
May 1, 2014
Taking care of an aging parent, spouse or relative can be physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually exhausting. Often time’s caregiving comes without a warning; most caregivers are thrown reluctantly into that role. In turn, caregivers often operate in "crisis mode," juggling numerous responsibilities--from scheduling medical appointments to preparing meals to even leaving their own families to provide care. There is no magic formula for becoming a caregiver. Each experience is unpredictable, ever changing and unique. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias? Some quick facts and figures from the Alzheimer’s Association:
Currently there are 5.4 millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease
In Walworth County there are over 2000 persons living with A/D or related dementias
There are more than 15 million caregivers of people with A/D and related dementias
In 2012, Caregivers provided over 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than
$216 Billion
Out of pocket expenses for long-distance caregivers are nearly twice as much as local
caregivers
In 2013, A/D will cost the nation $203 billion. This number is expected to rise to 1.2
trillion by 2050
Someone develops Alzheimer’s every 68 seconds
Some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or neurological changes in the brain: Confusion
with time or place, misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps, new problems with
word finding, speaking or writing.
If you notice:
Challenges in planning or solving problems
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
Decreased or poor judgment
Withdrawal from work or social activities
Change in mood and personality
See your doctor, psychiatrist, neurologist, psychologists or physician who has training in memory care