"Caregivers need to be supported in their decisions and do what is not only best for the person with the disease, but also what is best for them." Mayo Alzheimer's Newsletter.
How very, very true. In spite of the many tasks before us as caregivers to someone with dementia, it is imperative that we put our own needs first. We cannot let this disease take us down too. One way to take care of our needs is to have some activities that our loved one can do without our involvement. A woman I met recently told me her husband no longer could read, did not watch tv, and would not do something like jigsaw puzzles. He expected her to entertain him all the time. How exhausting! While many people with dementia probably cannot follow the plot in a movie, perhaps music is soothing. Or, we could implement something reader Kathy suggested, a digital photo frame filled with photos of familiar people and events. Brilliant idea. What can you implement today to entertain the care receiver while you get a break? We can always hire someone to come in for us to take a break, or arrange with a friend, but I also like to have activities he can do without my help while I am doing other tasks in the home. What are some activities you have found that can be done independently?
No comments:
Post a Comment