Dementia: Living with it Graciously :: Support for Dementia Caregivers

This blog is written to provide information and support to persons who are providing care for someone with dementia. A first indicator of dementia is when someone has trouble doing a task once familiar and easy for them. If you have begun to be concerned about someone's memory or cognitive processing, help the person receive a physical exam, to include lab work, and an appointment with a neuropsychologist for an evaluation of memory and cognitive processing.

May 12, 2010

65 million unpaid caregivers in US

"It is easier to recognize prayer as an attitude that should characterize all our activities. The more we become alive and awake, the more everything we do becomes prayer." David Steindl-Rast

65 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S.!? (AARP/May/June) How did they count us? And what do these caregivers wish for?: "money, time off and a little extra help top the list for caregivers seeking ways to better manage all their responsibilities": (Caregiving in the U.S. 2009 report) The tasks that caregivers routinely do without pay include: shopping for groceries, driving to appointments, doing housework, managing finances. On average this takes 20.4 hours per week. When someone wants to help and support a caregiver, taking on any of these tasks could be beneficial.