Pine Rest Mission Statement
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is called to express the healing
ministry of Jesus Christ by providing behavioral health services with
professional excellence, Christian integrity and compassion.
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By Cathy Brady, LMSW and Suzann Ogland-Hand, PhD
Caring for a person with a dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, can be more demanding, frustrating and time-consuming than many can imagine. This article will focus on how you can provide the best care, while maintaining your own health and well-being.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Many adults find themselves faced with responsibilities
of caring for aging relatives. Trying to figure out how to manage these
multiple roles
is a challenge. Remember you are not alone, and resources are available
to help both you and your loved one.
CAREGIVER TIPS
This process can become more manageable. Here’s
some direction on how to survive and thrive as a caregiver.
Get a diagnosis as early as possible. If you are noticing a change in your loved one’s personality or routine behavior, make a note of the change and raise it as an issue with them. Seek a comprehensive evaluation from your primary care physician and a neuropsychologist. A physical will rule out any medical reasons for the symptoms. A neuropsychological evaluation will identify abilities and deficits in functioning, how to live with deficits, rule out mood disorders, as well as giving a clearer sense of the diagnosis. Pine Rest Senior Care Clinic (616/222-4500) can schedule and provide a neuropsychological evaluation, which can occur in conjunction with your primary care physician.
Educate yourself about the disease. Get up-to-date information through books, the library, the internet (try WorriedAboutMemoryLoss.com or FamilyCaregiver.org for their health condition library), or your regional Alzheimer’s Association (toll-free 800/272-3900). A wealth of information is available.
Do legal and financial planning. Consult an elder law attorney on such planning tools as obtaining durable power of attorney for health care and financial issues, guardianship and conservatorship, to empower you to act on your loved one’s behalf when the time comes. It is very important to do this as soon as possible, while your loved one is able to fully participate in this planning process. Don’t wait for a crisis. Plan ahead.
Learn about available resources. Know what resources are available to help you supplement your care. The clinicians within the Pine Rest Senior Care Clinic and Pine Rest Center for Senior Care (616/222-4515) can help you identify your needs and connect you with the appropriate community resources.
Tap your social resources. The support of family and friends can be an enormous help. When people offer, “Just give me a call if I can do something,” think of specific tasks with which you need help (an hour off, something from a store, etc.) and ask them. If people don’t volunteer, make a direct request yourself. For example, “It’s new for me to ask others to help me out, but I could really use a break. Can you sit with mom while I go get some groceries?”
Develop contingency plans. What might need to happen if you were unable to care for your loved one? You need backup plans for times when you might be sick, on vacation, emotionally not able to give care, or even pass away. What is your “Plan B” if this should happen?
Be aware of your stress level. Be aware of where your body carries tension. Stress can show up with changes physically (such as headaches, high blood pressure, digestive problems), emotionally (such as frustration, fear, easy tearfulness, “short-fuse”) or behaviorally (such as sleep disruption, appetite changes, depression). If stress is not identified and is allowed to persist, this reduces your ability to provide adequate care to your loved one. Taking care of yourself is important and necessary. Take the Caregiver Stress Test in this article for a measure of your own current stress level.
Take care of yourself. It’s easy for caregivers to devote themselves totally to their loved ones and neglect their own needs. Don’t fall into that trap! Be aware of the following:
Make YOUR health a priority. Get to your doctor and keep on top of your health issues. If you aren’t here, you won’t be able to provide care to your loved one.
Take time for relaxation and exercise. Continue doing things “good for you,” that you enjoy on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Get enough rest and eat properly. It’s easier to keep yourself going daily when you’re well-nourished and well-rested. If this is a problem for you, seek help.
Maintain your religious beliefs and spiritual values. Spiritual practices and communities of faith can help and provide comfort.
Be realistic. Take one day at a time. Be patient with yourself. Set reasonable goals. Give yourself credit for doing what you can.
Be good to yourself! Maintain your sense of humor and look for ways to enjoy your days.
(Excerpted from "Today" magazine's "Living wit Dementia" issue. Look for the complete magazine online soon!)
Cathy Brady, MSW, LMSW, is a therapist in Pine Rest’s Campus and Northeast Clinics. She specializes in working with older adults, and provides psychosocial and dementia assessments, case consultation, individual and family counseling, and family education. In addition, Brady serves on the Caregiver Resource Network and is a member of Western Michigan University’s College of Health and Human Services advisory council. She has lectured on aging and caregiver issues on numerous occasions, and currently provides workshops on caregiver issues to area businesses. Brady received a Master’s degree in social work from Western Michigan University. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Clark Retirement Community.
Suzann Ogland-Hand earned a PhD in clinical
psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary’s Graduate School of Psychology and received postdoctoral
training in geropsychology at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center in California.
She has been a member of the Pine Rest staff since 1996. She currently serves
as Director of Pine Rest’s Center for Senior Care and as an outpatient
geropsychologist. She has researched and written extensively on behavioral
health in older adults and caregivers.
By Cathy Brady, LMSW and Suzann Ogland-Hand, PhD
Stage One: Performing tasks, such as helping with banking, household chores, providing transportation, or shopping.
Stage Two: You begin to define yourself as a caregiver, which includes the recognition that you might need some help with the role of caregiver. You see yourself in this new role of caregiver, in addition to that of devoted spouse, committed daughter, or good son.
Stage Three: Performing personal care such as helping with bathing or dressing.
Stage Four: Seeking out assistance and formal services. This is a significant change in the caregiver role as you look for outside resources to assist in supporting your tasks. These resources may include home health services, respite care, educational programs, meal delivery, and more.
Stage Five: Consideration of long term care placement, where you seriously consider housing changes to provide more care for your loved one. This stage is reached when your loved one‘s needs are more than you can handle.
Stage Six: Placement in a facility where care is provided at all times. Often the safety of your loved one can no longer be guaranteed while in your care and possibly your own health may begin to suffer.
Stage Seven: Termination of caregiver role, which can occur in one of three ways: (1) The death of your loved one (or yourself); (2) Your loved one gets better, which is unlikely if your loved one has dementia; (3) The caregiver no longer is able to give care.
(Excerpted from "Today" magazine's "Living wit Dementia" issue. Look for the complete magazine online soon!)
Classes and Workshops
July 12, 19 and July 24, 28
PREP Couples Communication Workshop
To help couples overcome common problems in miscommunication, Pine Rest
Christian Mental Health Services is hosting the Prevention and Relationship
Enhancement Program (PREP).
PREP is a skills building program designed to
help committed couples of any status (married or unmarried) and any age
learn to communicate more
effectively, manage conflicts, and solve problems without damaging intimacy
and trust. It has been featured on national shows such as Oprah, 20/20,
and 48 Hours.
For
more information click here.
General Events
July 14
'World of Treasures' at John Ball Zoo
Pine Rest, partnering with network 180, is sponsoring a summer filled with
a "World of Treasures" at John Ball Zoo. Activities include the
Sting Ray Lagoon outdoor touch pool, special daily events and scavenger
hunts, with the chance for ten lucky winners to receive a treasure chest
of prizes.
Pine Rest will be on hand June 30, July 14, August 11, September
23 and October 21. Staff will be available to greet visitors and answer
questions
on child, teen, adult and older adult mental health. Staff will also
have a bit of fun giving hints to the special scavenger hunt trivia on
animal
behavior as well as the rich, storied history of Pine Rest and the John
Ball Zoo. For more information on the John Ball Zoo, visit www.johnballzoosociety.org.
For more information, click here.
Pine Rest Services
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Disclaimer
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Copyright © 2006, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. All rights reserved. The contents of Mental Health News & Information are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. |  |