November is National Family Caregivers month and a time to not only appreciate all that families do to keep a loved one comfortable at home but help them find more information that may help them. We’ve discussed unpaid caregivers in other blogs and we know that more and more are stepping up to the plate to help those they love.

Caregivers Are Not Alone

According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are over 15 million caregivers providing unpaid care for a loved one. All in all they put in close to 18 million unpaid hours.

Resources for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

• Online Forums – This particular site offers online camaraderie and a chance to talk with others who, like you, are offering help to an Alzheimer’s patient. The online forum offers the ability to post a message, question or advice at your convenience and check back on answers that both professionals and others like you provide as resources.
• Those Recently Diagnosed – For those who have been diagnosed or know someone who has been diagnosed this particular area of the Alzheimer’s Association concentrates on facts, information & resources. A priceless array of resources for a frightening time for both the patient and their family.
• Finding a Caregiving in California – Accredited offers specialized in-home caregiving services for those who have dementia and dementia related illnesses and we will work with you to get any paperwork completed so you can have a break from caregiving 24/7. But we also offer an array of other services that may be helpful to  you and your loved one; which may help you keep your loved one in the comfort of home as long as possible, as safely as possible.

Stages of Caregiving for Dementia

There are three basic stages of caregiving when dealing with dementia. Below are resources for each stage.

1. Early Stage Care – at this point your loved one most likely understands what is going on and this can be frustrating for them; but, it can also be a positive way to help them make some choices in how they want to be cared for in later stages. This pdf booklet provides excellent resources & information.
2. Mid-Stage Care – A long & difficult stage, during the middle stages of dementia there is substantial brain change and cognitive issues; often leading to feelings of excessive stress, fear, and hopelessness as a caregiver. As it states on this page in the Alzheimer’s Association, it requires a lot of patience and flexibility to cope and a professional caregiver is one of the best resources you can turn to.
3. Late Stage Care – A difficult time to deal with as a caregiver, it requires some expertise in caregiving due to physical and mental decline. Your loved one will most likely have problems eating, drinking, and doing even the smallest tasks by themselves and you will need to work with others in order to provide care during the late stages.

You deserve help if you are a caregiver for someone with dementia. We want to provide you with the resources you need.

Photo by Vince Alongi