Other Family Members Can Boost Your Spirit When Dad Is Struggling with Alzheimer’s
Home Care in West Hempstead NY: Other Family Members Can Boost Your Spirit When Dad Is Struggling with Alzheimer’s
You will find that supporting your father, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, can be both extremely frustrating and rewarding. As the disease progresses, though, you will find a growing number of challenges to overcome. There may be times when you feel completely overwhelmed and as though there is nobody to whom you can turn.
This is not going to be an easy job.
Taking care of an elderly family member, even somebody who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, is not easy. There are far too many people in this country and around the world who simply think it’s their responsibility to take care of an aging parent and have no understanding of what to expect. When you throw Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia into the mix, the challenges can almost be unbearable at times.
You will need support.
Keep in mind that taking care of an elderly individual with Alzheimer’s is a job. Yes, it might be a family member and somebody whom you care about tremendously, but if you don’t approach this like you would any other job, there may be times when you don’t feel like stopping by, when you arrive late and aren’t too concerned about it, and that can cause anxiety and even confusion for your father in this particular situation.
Your family can be a great resource.
You might not see anybody stepping up to help out. You might feel like everyone in your family is expecting you to be the primary caregiver. You may even hint to some of them that you simply need assistance, but nobody is really offering much of anything.
However, this is your family. Maybe instead of beating around the bush you can tell them the challenges you’re facing. Maybe you can offer some observations, things that concern you about your father and his safety. For most families, it becomes clear there is a serious issue and somebody needs help, often rally around their loved ones. Your family just might do the same for you.
Your friends can also be a great support.
It’s not always easy to take advantage of that support. If they’re advising you to get help, consider it. Hiring a home care aide can not only be one of the best decisions you make, it can also provide your father the very real and very necessary level of experienced care he needs.
The earlier quality care begins for somebody with Alzheimer’s, the more positive the effects can be as the disease progresses.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in West Hempstead, NY, please contact the caring staff at Family First Home Companions. Serving all of Long Island. Call today: (631) 319-3961
Jennifer has specialized training in Alzheimer’s disease through the Long Island Alzheimer’s Association and the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.She also volunteered her time with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center of Long Island for 3 years by providing cognitive stimulation to an Alzheimer’s patient group.
Jennifer educates the community about elder care and speaks to caregiver support groups, senior centers, and at professional organizations.Topics include home safety, effective strategies for family caregiving, elder care planning, and awareness about elder abuse.
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