Helping Families and Carers of Dementia Patients Handle Caregiver Stress

Helping Families and Carers of Dementia Patients Handle Caregiver Stress

TribecaCare
4th Apr 2025

https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/caregiver-health/caregiver-stress

It is traumatic to look after a loved family member who is declining in front of your eyes with progressive symptoms of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. The physical demands can be exhausting, the mental distress can make you feel ill and of course, there is the financial burden and emotional turmoil which result in the Primary Caregiver needing stress management techniques as well.

10 Symptoms of Caregiver Stress

Denial about the disease and its effect on the person who has been diagnosed. (“I know Mom is going to get better.”)
Anger at the person with Alzheimer’s or frustration that he or she can’t do the things they used to be able to do. (“He knows how to get dressed — he’s just being stubborn.”)
Social withdrawal from friends and activities that used to make you feel good. (“I don’t care about visiting with the neighbors anymore.”)
Anxiety about the future and facing another day. (“What happens when he needs more care than I can provide?”)
Depression that breaks your spirit and affects your ability to cope. (“I just don’t care anymore.”)
Exhaustion that makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks. (“I’m too tired for this.”)
Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns. (“What if she wanders out of the house or falls and hurts herself?”)
Irritability that leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and actions. (“Leave me alone!”)
Lack of concentration that makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks. (“I was so busy, I forgot my appointment.”)
Health problems that begin to take a mental and physical toll. (“I can’t remember the last time I felt good.”)

If you experience any of these signs of stress on a regular basis, make time to talk to your doctor. Ignoring symptoms can cause your physical and mental health to decline.

Tips to Manage Stress

Know what community resources are available. Adult day programs, in-home assistance, visiting nurses and meal delivery are just some of the services that can help you manage daily tasks.
Get help and find support. Building a care team calendar helps you organize friends and family who want to help provide care and support. If stress becomes overwhelming, seek professional help.
Use relaxation techniques. There are several simple relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress. Try more than one to find which works best for you. Techniques include:

- Visualization (mentally picturing a place or situation that is peaceful and calm).
- Meditation (which can be as simple as dedicating 15 minutes a day to letting go of all stressful thoughts).
- Breathing exercises (slowing your breathing and focusing on taking deep breaths).
- Progressive muscle relaxation (tightening and then relaxing each muscle group, starting at one end of your body and working your way to the other end).
Get moving. Physical activity — in any form — can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Even 10 minutes of exercise a day can help. Take a walk. Do an activity you love, such as gardening or dancing.
Find time for yourself. Consider taking advantage of respite care so you can spend time doing something you enjoy. Respite care provides caregivers with a temporary rest from caregiving, while the person with Alzheimer’s disease continues to receive care in a safe environment.
Become an educated caregiver. As the disease progresses, new caregiving skills may be necessary. Research websites such as The Alzheimer’s Association to educate yourself. You will understand and cope with the behaviors and personality changes that often accompany Alzheimer’s. You may also find it helpful to talk to other care partners and caregivers about how they are coping with the challenges of the disease and uncertainty about the future.
Take care of yourself. Visit your doctor regularly. Try to eat well, exercise and get plenty of rest. Making sure that you are healthy can help you be a better caregiver.
Maintain your sense of humor. Keeping your sense of humor doesn’t mean that you’re making light of the situation or poking fun at it. Humor can be a valuable coping strategy.
Make legal and financial plans. Putting legal and financial plans in place after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is important so that the person with the disease can participate. Having future plans in place can provide comfort to the entire family. Many documents can be prepared without the help of an attorney. However, if you are unsure about how to complete legal documents or make financial plans, you may want to seek assistance from an attorney specializing in elder law, a financial advisor who is familiar with elder or long-term care planning, or both.

Symptoms of Depression

https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/caregiver-health/caregiver-depression

Caregiving is hard — and can lead to feelings of stress, guilt, anger, sadness, isolation — and depression. Depression affects different people in different ways and at different times. For example, someone may experience depression right after their family member has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Other caregivers may experience it as Alzheimer’s progresses and the cognitive abilities of the person with Alzheimer’s diminish.

Signs and symptoms of depression include:

Becoming easily agitated or frustrated.
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
Feelings of hopelessness.
Thoughts of death, dying or suicide.
Disturbed sleep.
Fatigue or loss of energy.
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities.
Difficulty thinking or concentrating.
Changes in appetite and weight.
Physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and pain.

Source: American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

See your doctor

If you are concerned that you might be depressed, see your doctor as soon as possible. Certain medications and some medical conditions can cause the same symptoms as depression. A doctor can rule out these possibilities by doing a medical exam and lab tests. If depression is left untreated, it can lead to emotional and physical problems. It can also affect the quality of care you’re able to provide the person with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Treatment

Depression can be effectively treated. And the earlier treatment begins, the earlier you’ll feel better. Treatment commonly involves a combination of medication, therapy and support.

Medication

Feeling better takes time. If you are prescribed an antidepressant, talk with your doctor about how long it will take to feel the full benefit. In some cases, it may take six to eight weeks. Never stop taking an antidepressant without consulting your doctor first. Abruptly stopping antidepressants can cause unwanted side effects.

Counseling

Your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional, such as a counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. Counseling can be very effective in the treatment of depression, and can help you deal with the problems you are facing. It’s important to be comfortable with the professional you seek treatment with, so consider interviewing several to find a good fit.

Tribeca Care’s Geriatric and Dementia Clinic has specialists who treat the Patient and the Caregivers.

Please call and make your appointment at: +91 33 6606 4208