Though the holiday season can easily become overwhelming, it is also a time to relax and take some time to appreciate the positive aspects about life. A caregiving journey with a loved one with dementia can at times be chaotic and stressful, but if you take a few minutes to take in the joyful moments, you may find your attitude towards caregiving and your overall experience improved.
As a caregiver for someone with dementia, it can sometimes be difficult to live in the moment and embrace even the smallest experiences of joy. Pay attention to your loved one throughout the day, find joy in a smile, a laugh, or even a mischievous smirk. They say the best medicine is laughter. Find things to laugh about—together is best, but sometimes you just need to laugh on your own! As a dementia caregiver, you know there are moments where your loved one’s personality shines through or brings you back to a positive memory. Embrace these moments and be thankful for the positive experiences—they really are there!
Don’t worry about the future. We all know that dementia is a progressive disease. The future is inevitable, your loved one’s abilities will continue to decline. As hard as it sounds, worrying about what is to come will likely ruin your experience of the present. They say that “worry is the thief of joy.” Do your best to live in the moment and enjoy the moments, conversations, and activities you get to experience with your loved one in the “now.”
Don’t worry about the past. This is sometimes even harder to do! Caregiver guilt is a real thing. Do not dwell on experiences that have not gone well or wish for things you should or should not have done. Worrying about the past can prevent you from being positive about the future. However, don’t forget the positive things that have happened, reminiscing about positive times can help you realize that positive things can also be ahead of you.
Take a break. Also, much harder than it sounds! How many times have you heard, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”? As a caregiver, you give so much of your time, emotions, and physical energy to the person you are caring for and love. There are many forms of respite available so you can get a break from caregiving and know your loved one will be taken care of during your break. As a caregiver for someone with dementia, you may feel taking a break (using respite services) can help you recharge your batteries and come back feeling refreshed.
Contact the ADRC to talk about respite services and support groups for caregivers!
ADRC Staff Spotlight: Cayden Lasecki
You may have called ADRC and spoke to a staff member over the phone or perhaps you stopped in and met with someone directly. Whichever form of communication you have used, you likely did not learn much about the individual assisting you. This is because our goal is to...
