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This article focuses on those living with a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but it also has relevance for others providing in-home care for Alzheimer’s disease in the Dallas – Fort Worth,  TX area. From my 33+ years experience as a provider of home health care and home care for Alzheimer’s clients, some common warning signs have emerged indicating a spouse may be unintentionally undermining their efforts caring for their loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.

If any of the warning signs below apply to you, then it is likely you may have unintentionally become the primary source of frequent and/or elevated levels of agitation in your spouse.  This frequency and level of agitation is the most common determinant seen of a spouses perceived ability to care at home for their loved with Alzheimer’s.

You are not getting adequate quality sleep.  Going to bed worried about how your spouse will be that night leads to sleeping with one eye and one ear open, which diminishes the likelihood of REM sleep needed for a quality sleep.  Frequent longer awakenings to attend to your spouse also contributes to this.  Lack of good quality sleep results in a cumulative sleep deficit that almost certainly diminishes your ability to effectively cope as a caregiver.

You are not getting adequate time for yourself without feeling guilty.  This is the quality time we need to take care of ourselves, so that we are in a position to effectively care for others.  It may also be the time needed to adequately shop for nutritional necessities for both of you.

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Denial is you fighting the reality of the situation, which often manifests itself in the following warning signs that often contribute to level and frequency of agitation.

Persistently trying even harder at what had been working well, yet getting less favorable results.   Unfortunately Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, so the way you handle things today can not be expected to yield the same results in the future, as the condition has changed.

Others spending lengthy time with your spouse are not having the same behavioral issues you are having with him/her.

Medical professionals and/or family members expressed concern about the toll caregiving for your spouse is having on your own health.

You have expressed frustration to others and received loving support, but nothing seems to have changed.

Your focus is on what needs to change for your spouse with little self reflection on changes you may need to make for yourself.

Denial of the reality of ones current situation in this journey with their spouse seems to have the most devastating effect on the couples I have worked with.  Denial is not an unexpected part of anyone’s journey through the progression of Alzheimer’s, we just don’t want our results to be defined by it. Having the courage to change what we can, the serenity to accept what we can’t change and the wisdom to know the difference.

If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned warning signs, then a highly reputable, experienced in-home care home health agency such as Care Mountain in the Dallas – Fort Worth Texas area can help.  Our caregivers are some of the most experienced at providing in-home care for seniors with Alzheimer’s.  A ZERO State complaint history, ZERO deficiency Texas Re-Licensure Survey, SIX high quality achievement awards from the Dallas and Northeast Texas Chapter – Alzheimer’s Association and always BBB A+ rating are some of the assurances that you will be getting the highest quality in-home Alzheimer’s care in the Dallas – Fort Worth TX Metroplex.

Some other good resources in the Dallas – Fort Worth TX Metroplex include the “Help & Support” page for the Dallas and Northeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as the “Help & Support” page for the North Central Texas Alzheimer Chapter – Alzheimer’s Association.

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2020-01-16 08:39:13

Signs You May Be Unintentionally Undermining Your Caregiving Of A Loved One With Alzheimer’s: Dallas – Fort Worth, TX Area Senior Home Care Guide