Emily juggles her career while caring for her elderly parents.

Lately she feels tired and finds herself dragging through the day. Often she falls into bed exhausted and doesn’t want to get up with the alarm. Instead of facing each challenge with the enthusiasm she once had for finding a solution, now she views them as problems.

Emily’s become too busy to exercise. Even following a healthy eating plan seems too stressful. And a vacation has not been part of her life for years.

At her last check up, her doctor said she’s at risk for diabetes and has elevated blood pressure.

Who is at risk for caregiver stress?

Caregiver stress appears to affect women more than men. About 75 percent of caregivers who report feeling very strained emotionally, physically, or financially are women.

Although caregiving can be challenging, it is important to note that it can also have its rewards. It can give you a feeling of giving back to a loved one. It can also make you feel needed and can lead to a stronger relationship with the person receiving care. About half of caregivers report that:

• They appreciate life more as a result of their caregiving experience

• Caregiving has made them feel good about themselves

Original Source:
Caregiver Stress Fact Sheet

What is caregiver stress?

Most definitions of caregiver stress emphasize the emotional and physical strains of caregiving.

These definitions are often incomplete though. Caregiving can be an all-encompassing undertaking, that can lead to multiple strains including physical, emotional, social, financial and spiritual strains.

• Physical strains of caregiving can lead to physical exhaustion, injury and illness. Going to bed and waking up exhausted can be due to physical strains, and also emotional and other types of strains leading to stress.

• Emotional strains include feelings of guilt, frustration and anger.

• Social strains can lead to isolation, loneliness and relationship issues.

• Financial strains can include loss of income and caregiving expenses.

• Spiritual strains can also be part of the caregiver’s stress.

And often caregiver stress occurs with more than one—often multiple—strains at once.

What are the physical demands?

Caregiving can be physically demanding. There can be additional errands or chores to do, such as housecleaning and cooking. Helping someone to get dressed and bathed can be challenging, as can getting in and out of a wheelchair or bed.

In chronic progressive diseases or conditions the physical demands of caregiving get more demanding as the disease or condition of the one receiving care progresses. Someone may go from being able to walk to being confined to a wheelchair or bed, for example.

What are the emotional strains?

The sources of emotional strains in caregiving are often varied.

They can start in the pain of caring for a loved one who is chronically ill. Helping someone take their final journey may be the hardest and best thing you ever do. Watching anyone get weaker is hard, leading to feelings of helplessness and emotional pain.

When it’s loved one, the sadness at their current condition can become overwhelming. Especially if they have changed during their illness…

Sick people are often not at their best. Their minds and bodies are focused on fighting the disease or condition. They often appear cranky or irritable, which may be due to pain or their illness or their own frustration at being ill or something else.

Some diseases like Alzheimer’s disease can even lead to a loss of memory and sadly personality. The person you are caring for today may be totally different than your memories.

Other emotions can include guilt, leading to caregiver guilt.

What are the social strains?

Social strains can involve family relationships, relationships with friends and even less close relationships. The demands of caregiving can lead to little or no time for usual activities and relationships.

Families can be strained by disagreements in how to give care, who will give care and other matters including finances.

There are basically two main reasons caregivers have social strains. One is because caregiving tends to be a priority for caregivers, often leading to skipping or ignoring social activities. The caregiver can become isolated, and when she realizes she needs help may find her social support structure no longer there or helpful.

The second reason is the isolation of illness. As the care recipient’s mind and body focus on getting well or fighting the disease, care recipients tend to focus inward. This means that they skip activities that once gave them pleasure. They may no longer be able to handle social situations mentally, physically or both.

So social strains of isolation can lead to isolation, loneliness and withdrawal from activities that can help reduce stress.

What are the financial strains?

Caregiving can have extra expenses and can lead to a reduction in income from the caregiver having to reduce work hours or even quit her job. Insurance including Medicare often does not cover caregiving expenses, including caregivers and supplies.

Sadly many times the primary caregiver ends up also responsible for caregiving expenses, often at a time she can least afford it.

What are the spiritual strains?

In addition to reduced social interactions, caregivers may also face feeling less time to participate in spiritual activities. When overwhelmed they may also face a loss of faith or commitment.

The isolation and loneliness of caregiving can be increased when the caregiver cannot receive spiritual renewal and guidance.

What are the health risks of caregiver stress?

Caregivers are at risk for several health problems related to stress according to recent research. They include…

• Depression…

• Anxiety…

• Increased levels of stress hormones which can lead to changes including rapid heart beat, elevated blood pressure and more…

• Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and other long-term medical problems…

• Impaired immune system leading to slower than normal recovery from infections or wounds…

• Weight problems including obesity…

• Increased risk for mental problems including difficulty paying attention and memory problems.

When the caregiver is ill, there can be an increased risk to the health and well-being of the care recipient. Who will give care if the caregiver is ill?

Click here to read my article “How Can Caregiver Stress Affect My Health?”

Strategies for dealing with caregiver stress

Caring for yourself may be the best thing you can do for your care recipient.

And reducing, coping with and eliminating your caregiver’s stress is an important part of caring for yourself. Putting yourself first at times can be life saving—for both you and your care recipient.

Strategies for dealing with caregiver stress include:

• Caring for yourself, including your health. This includes getting enough rest, exercising regularly, eating healthy, taking breaks and seeing your doctor regularly.

• Asking—and insisting upon—help in caregiving.

• Use relaxation techniques including muscle relaxation, guided imagery and deep breathing.

• Engage in activities like knitting or yoga that trigger the relaxation response.

  Click here to read my post about the relaxation response.

For more tips on caring for yourself, check out this article: Caregiver Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself

What happens when caregiver stress is unchecked?

Caregiver stress can lead to mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. When caregivers don’t get help, they can end up with a condition called caregiver burnout.

Caregivers are so busy caring for others they often neglect their own needs. This can be dangerous to both the caregiver and the care recipient. Caregiver burnout often shows up as stress symptoms, fatigue and depression.

There can be a change from positive outlook to negative, a feeling of being utterly exhausted and burned out and even withdrawal. When the caregiver can no longer care for the care recipient, there is a risk of injury to the care recipient.

And that’s often unintentional. Pure exhaustion can lead to missing medications, or being unable to cope with a problem.

What’s the solution?

Preventing and eliminating caregiver stress before it becomes a problem. The best program I’ve found for effectively eliminating stress and burnout was developed originally for educators. Click here to learn more about “Keeping the Fire: Seven Tips to Eliminate Burnout”.

And start today to eliminate caregiver stress in your caregiving!

To your thriving in caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Post:

Your Caregiver Stress Guide

That is, symptoms developing before dementia. Now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine may have found an interesting link between Alzheimer’s and abnormal sleep patterns…

Washington University Researchers Find Link Between Sleeplessness, Alzheimer’s

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - New research from Washington University School of Medicine shows disrupted sleep could be a sign of pending dementia.

Lead researcher Yo-El Ju found that patients who had abnormal amyloid levels in their spinal fluid, meaning they likely had Alzheimer’s plagues building up in their brains, tended to have one major sleep problem: they didn’t sleep very well.

“There was no difference between the people who had pre-Alzheimer’s disease and those who didn’t in terms of the length of time they slept. However, there was a difference in sleep efficiency,” she explained.

“Someone who falls asleep immediately and stays asleep the whole eight hours would have one hundred percent sleep efficiency but that’s pretty rare. We found that those with pre-Alzheimer’s efficiency had lower sleep efficiency than those without pre-Alzheimer’s disease, meaning they slept less time they were in bed.”

Ju said she hopes future research will find a medication to improve the quality of sleep which might slow or prevent the progression of these plagues into Alzheimer’s disease.

Original Article:

Washington University Researchers Find Link Between Sleeplessness, Alzheimer’s

One of the most frustrating parts of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s – or who is at risk for developing it – is the lack of tests and findings including symptoms before the development of dementia.  This study is intriguing because it suggests that recognizing and improving the quality of sleep may slow or prevent Alzheimer’s.

Finding a way to help those with Alzheimer’s and their families and caregivers can be challenging.  You may have experienced the fear and frustration that occurs when the unexpected happens.

Unfortunately, sometimes people are not as kind and patient as they could be.  Now there are cards to help explain Alzheimer’s to a waiter, receptionist or clerk.  Quietly without embarrassment.  Just click here now for Alzheimer’s Companion Cards.

And see how they can help cope with Alzheimers symptoms.

To your thriving in caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Post:

When Janet first became a caregiver, her parents lived independently.  Janet ran errands and took her mother shopping.  Both of them enjoyed the outings, and it did not feel like a burden to Janet.

Over time, Janet’s responsibilities increased as her parents became more frail.  Her caregiving responsibilities began to affect her work, her family and even her health.  She cut back hours and travel for work so she could care for her parents.  The stress of being the primary caregiver led to Janet developing health issues.

Why do so many caregivers underestimate the time commitment to caregiving?

Because caregiving can be a stealth activity.  It often starts out slowly, as in Janet’s case with running errands or helping with physical chores.  And with time it can lead to more responsibility and obligations… which to some caregivers can seem never-ending.

Caregivers also often underestimate the length of time they will need to be caregivers. 

When an illness strikes an elderly parent or grandparent, recovery may be slower than expected or it can lead to other problems.  Or other problems just seem to follow.  One study showed that caregivers initially often underestimate the length of caregiving time by at least half.   A caregiver expecting to give care for one or two years may often spent four years or more giving care.

And the estimated time per week also was often underestimated.  This can vary from week to week, and often increases with time.  So a caregiver spending two hours a week may end up spending much more time.

The impact caregiving has on work and income is also often underestimated.  Caregiving responsibilities can mean cutting back work hours or missing important training and travel for work.  This can lead to a loss of income both in the short term and long term. 

In 1999, one study showed the average loss of lifetime wealth for caregiver including income, pension and social security benefits was $659,000.  In 2013 dollars this is $890,000 – 1,060,000!

Caregiving can also lead to a loss in opportunities.  If a caregiver decides to leave the workplace even for a short time, she may find it difficult to resume her career.  She may find her savings and retirement including Social Security benefits also are affected.

Where can you get help balancing the costs and responsibilities of becoming caregivers to elderly parents?

• Get as much information as you can about your parents’ health and the likely progression of their diseases.  Ask specific questions about how much time you will need to spend in giving care.  And make decisions with help from your medical, financial and legal experts.  They can also help you find additional sources of help. 
  Online sources may also be of help.  AARP has a wealth of information in their Caregiver Resource Center.  And specific sites such as Alzheimer’s Association often have a special section for caregiver tips and information specific to their disease.  You may also find help at government agencies like your local Office of Aging.
• Get help for your family and support system.  Ask for help and get it before you become frustrated or ill.  You may be able to get help with small things like errands or chores or bigger things like sharing caregiving responsibilities.  Everyone needs breaks from caregiving.  Both daily breaks and longer vacations or respites. 
  And whenever possible, include them in the decision-making process.
• Talk to your supervisor.  If you’re in school, talk to your advisor or TA.  Let them know about your caregiving responsibilities and see what options are available to you.  Telecommuting for example may be an option, as are flexible hours or job-sharing.
• Consider community programs.  Adult day care, respite care and caregiver support groups in your community or online can be of service.  
• Keep alert to changing needs – yours, your family’s and your parents or grandparents.  With time, the caregiving needs and responsibilities often change.  Usually they increase with time, although sometimes the caregiving is temporary.  Decisions made a year ago may need revision.

Balancing the responsibilities and costs of becoming caregivers to elderly parents starts with recognizing the problem, including awareness of the future possibilities. 

So what’s the first step in caregiving?

Being a caregiver to elderly parents is different than being a daughter or a son.  The first step is stepping into the role of caregiver.

When Janet recognized she was no longer “just” a daughter, she became an effective caregiver.

And she’s right.

A is for accepting and acknowledging you are a caregiver.  And this “A” is the first one in “A HEART PLAN” because it IS so important to effective caregiving.  “A HEART PLAN” gives you a road map for going from barely surviving to thriving in caregiving.

Click here to download your own copy of “A HEART PLAN” or go to

www.AskDrIna.com/roadmap

To your thriving in caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Post:

How To Balance the Costs and Responsibilities of Becoming Caregivers to Elderly Parents?

Even sometimes when you are coming out of the doctor’s office.

When the doctor told Tom his wife had dementia, his first thought was , “Thank Goodness it’s not Alzheimer’s.”  Only after the doctor explained that Alzheimer’s was still a possibility and why, did Tom understand his wife could have Alzheimer’s.

This post I wrote recently for family caregivers explains the difference between dementia vs Alzheimer’s.

If you’re wondering about the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, you’re not alone.

They often mean different things to doctors and patients.  And can be confusing.

So what’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s?

• Dementia is a general term describing a group of symptoms.

• Alzheimer’s is a cause of dementia.

Dementia is a term used by doctors to describe forgetfulness and the loss of the ability to think clearly and draw conclusions.  Or what is often described as “sound thinking” or “sound reasoning.”  Some doctors now use the term “neurocognitive disorder” instead of dementia.

It’s not to add confusion.  Instead to doctors it is a more precise term.  Another example is that doctors usually call a heart attack a myocardial infarction or abbreviate the term as “MI”.

It’s shorthand to the doctors that precisely defines the term.  The myocardium is the heart muscle, and infarction is the process of cell damage that occurs during an MI.

Alzheimer’s disease – also sometimes called Alzheimer’s dementia – is a specific cause of dementia.

Using two terms is similar in describing head or sinus congestion.  The congestion is the group of symptoms that describe what is happening.  Nasal stuffiness and a runny nose are examples of the symptoms included in head congestion.

The causes of congestion can be varied, including infections like a cold virus or a sinus infection, or allergies like hay fever.  And if the doctor doesn’t know the cause, she uses a term like sinus congestion to describe the symptoms.

Dementia too has more than one cause.  Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of irreversible dementia in adults. Vascular disease (usually strokes), Parkinson’s disease, vitamin deficiencies and thyroid disease are some of the other in the list of causes of dementia.

The vitamin deficiencies may be preventable, and thyroid dementia may be reversible when treated early and appropriately.

Do you see how knowing the cause of the dementia is important?

Finding the cause, especially finding one that is potentially treatable and even reversible, is why an examination for the cause of dementia is important.  A history and physical exam will tell the doctor some things, and laboratory tests, radiology tests or other tests or referrals may be ordered.

And to the caregiver, knowing a more precise diagnosis than dementia can help you in your caregiving.  The doctor should explain the expected course of the dementia.  Doctors call this the prognosis.

Knowing what to expect can help the caregiver and family plan for the future.  It’s quite different to know that someone’s disease will continue to get worse rather than stay at the same level.

One place to get information about caregiving and help in finding resources is a free service from AARP.  Their Caregiving Resource Center has a lot of information for caregivers.  They even have a toll free phone line to help you find the resources you need. 

Just go to http://aarp.org/caregiving and check it out yourself!

Original Post:

Dementia vs Alzheimer’s: What’s the Difference?

Sometimes the difference between dementia vs Alzheimer’s is not as important.

When service personnel like a waiter understands that the person you are with may be forgetful and easily confused, it really doesn’t matter if they know the exact diagnosis.

They probably will be more likely to be compassionate and patient, if they know there’s a problem.

Yet caregivers are often unable to discretely let them know there’s a potential problem.  After all, you probably don’t want to let the entire restaurant know.

Wondering how you can discretely let someone know the person you are with is forgetful and may get confused or upset unexpectedly?

Now there are business-size cards you can carry with you to quietly alert a waitress, receptionist or other service people the person you are with has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

Without alerting the whole room.

 Just click here now for your cards.

To your thriving in caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Post:

Dementia vs Alzheimer’s: What’s the Difference?

Basically those with caregiving responsibilities for someone in a generation older and one younger than themselves.  The caregiver is sandwiched between care needing generations.

More baby boomers are finding themselves in this predicament.  Finding themselves in the role of caregiver to elderly parents.

When her sister died unexpectedly, Linda became caregiver for their parents, Joyce and Tom. 

Joyce and Tom lived in Oregon, and Linda traveled there from Pennsylvania to find housing arrangements for them.  And quickly learned she was not prepared for their condition.

Linda thought Joyce and Tom could be in an apartment, not realizing Joyce was no longer able to care for herself.  Linda’s infrequent visits had not prepared her for Joyce needing additional support and care.

When stepping into the role of caregiver, it’s different than what you did before.  Linda’s sister had been the primary caregiver, and the switch came quickly and unexpectedly for Linda. 

What are some of the challenges facing a long distance caregiver to elderly parents? 

• Caring across vast distances.  It can be hard to drop everything when you feel you need to see what’s going on yourself.  Or when your elderly parent unexpectedly needs you.
• Not seeing daily changes.  While it can be difficult to watch someone you love slowly deteriorate, it can also be difficult when you are not aware of changes, like Linda found.  Guilt can set in for missing something the elderly parent or parents did not share or wanted to hide.
• Being confident that your elderly parents are cared for and their needs are met.  This can be a concern because you may need to trust someone else to take your parent to appointments, and to see she eats and more.

Did you know that about 10,000 Baby Boomers a day are turning 65?

If they haven’t experienced being a caregiver to elderly parents before, many will now or in the near future.

In 2009, there were an estimated 78 million Baby Boomers in the U.S.  And an estimated 42.1 million people in the U.S. were unpaid caregivers for someone 50 years or older, although not all unpaid caregivers were Baby Boomers. 

So what’s the first step in any caregiving – long distance or otherwise?

The first thing Linda recognized was that being a caregiver to elderly parents is different than being a daughter – or any role she had had before.  She stepped into the role. 

Today she says until she recognized she was no longer “just” a daughter, it was impossible to become an effective caregiver to elderly parents.

And she’s right.

A is for accepting and acknowledging you are a caregiver.  And this “A” is the first one in “A HEART PLAN” because it IS so important to effective caregiving.  “A HEART PLAN” gives you a road map for going from barely surviving to thriving in caregiving.

Click here to download your own copy of “A HEART PLAN” or go to

www.AskDrIna.com/roadmap

To your thriving in caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

P.S.  Raise awareness about caregivers’ needs by voting for Caregiving With Purpose in Healthline’s Best Blog Contest.  Caregiving With Purpose was honored by the editors with a nomination for best Health Blog of 2012.

You can vote for the same blog daily at www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com/vote.  The contest runs through Feb 15, 2013.

Original Post:

What Are Some Challenges a Baby Boomer Faces As a Long Distance Caregiver to Elderly Parents?

Finding a hospice in our rural area was a challenge.  When I found a possibility, they wanted a referral from my mother’s doctor.

Unfortunately he had left the practice, and the nurse practitioner would not approve hospice without my mother coming to the office for an exam.  And she would not make house calls.

Hello?

If Mother could come the office we would not have been seeking hospice!

Every day caregivers face similar or worse predicaments.  Feeling alone in a sea of red tape is just one of the challenges of caregiving, adding sometimes unnecessarily to caregiver stress.

About 57% of  adults in the U.S. were providing or had provided unpaid care to a family member or friend according to a 2005 report from Opinion Research Corp.

That’s a majority!

Wonder if they’re suffering?

Yes! In 2009 the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP in “Caregiving in the U.S.”  reported they are,  including…

• 11% of family caregivers reported their physical health had declined due to caregiving…
   
• Caring for someone with dementia can lead to physical problems for the caregiver.  Studies show it can negatively affect the caregiver’s immune system for up to 3 years after the caregiving ends.  And this can increase the caregiver’s risk of developing one or more chronic illnesses…
   
• 23% of family caregivers giving care for 5 or more years report their own health is poor or fair.

Sobering statistics, yes?

Unfortunately most caregivers feel alone, and until recently they probably were.

And many are silent because they don’t know who to ask for help, they are too busy giving care to get help during business hours, or they have asked and not gotten the answers they need.

The good news is that caregivers and caregiving are getting more attention.  Both online and off.

AARP has a new section on caregiving.  And it has lots of information for caregivers.  You can find it at www.aarp.org/caregiving.

What are some ways caregivers can avoid becoming the suffering silent majority?

• Speak up and ask for help!  Before you are at the end of your rope. Ideally caregivers should have a support system in place.  Know a caregiver without one?  Help him or her start one!
   
• Have a backup plan.  And ideally a backup plan for the backup plan.  You never know when something unexpected will change your plans.  It could be progression of symptoms or an illness, an unexpected storm, or something else.
   
• Take care of your own health – physical and mental.  Caregiving can easily become all-encompassing endeavor.  No one person can do it alone 24/7.  You need time to recharge and regroup, and you need to pay attention to your own health needs.  Caregiving can be physically and mentally demanding, even exhausting.

Do you know someone who is giving care?

If so, please reach out to them and offer to help.  You can make a difference by

• Giving them a brief break in caregiving…
   
• Offering to grocery shop or run errands…
   
• Paying a bill…
   
• Doing household chores…
   
• Mowing the lawn or seeing it’s mowed…
   
• Cooking meals…
   
• Or in any number of small or large ways.

All helping reduce their caregiver stress.

Every little bit helps!

You can also find out more information on ways to help at AARP’s caregiving site or on my blog, Caregiving With Purpose.

And you can support caregiving by raising awareness.  In your community, your church, your business, etc.

I hope you’ll help in raising awareness about caregivers’ needs by voting for Caregiving With Purpose in Healthline’s Best Blog Contest.  Caregiving With Purpose was honored by the editors with a nomination for best Health Blog of 2012.

You can vote for the same blog daily at http://www.healthline.com/health/best-health-blogs-contest.  The contest runs through Feb 15, 2013.

Original Post:

Caregiver Stress: How Can Caregivers Avoid Becoming the Suffering Silent Majority?

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Think this doesn’t affect you? Then consider this…

“There are only four kinds of people in the world -

1. Those who have been caregivers
2. Those who currently are caregivers
3. Those who will be caregivers,
4. And those who will need caregivers.”

- Rosalynn Carter

Number 4 could also be written “And those who have needed, need now or will need caregivers.”

Caregiving is one of the hardest things you may ever do. It is also one of the best.

I’m asking for you vote to make Caregiving With Purpose the Number 1 blog on Healthline’s Best Health Blog Contest.

This is one time you can vote without consideration for politics. Caregiving affects everyone.

Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter knows this as you can see from the above quote. So does Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, who cared for President Reagan after he was shot and after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease.

There are other First Families who have been touched by illness and one or both spouses took over caregiving.

Are you a caregiver?

To be a caregiver you don’t have to actually do the day-to-day care. You are a caregiver if you

• See someone has meals…
• Helps them take their medications…
• Take them to appointments…
• Sees that their bills are paid..
• And much more.

Now do you see how you are a caregiver? Or know or need one?

To vote go to www.AskDrIna.com/bestblog and vote for Caregiving With Purpose. If it is not on the first page, scroll down the list and click on page 2.

You can vote with your Twitter or Facebook account. And if you don’t have one, consider signing up for one just for this contest.

Winning this award is not just the award. There’s prize money involved, but more importantly this is a way to get people’s attention about caregiving and caregivers.

Caregivers often are silent. They are often stressed and too exhausted to complain or figure out how and where to get help. If one person in their lives becomes aware of their needs, how much better would their caregiving and their lives be.

This is one time voting “early and often” is a legal option! The rules say you can vote daily.

So, vote now and daily through February 15, 2013. Share this post with your friends and family and ask them to vote so together we can bring caregivers to the forefront and change the world – one caregiver at a time.

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Post:

Vote for ‘Caregiving With Purpose’ as Best Health Blog of 2012

Lonely? They never showed it. 

One of my aunts lived to age 93, and was active in her community – the senior living center she lived in.  She made ornaments for their Christmas bazaar up until shortly before her death.  And she remained active in her bridge club and other social activities.

A few months before she passed, she told me how sad going to the cemetery had become.  Too many friends and family – often younger than she – were there.  That’s the closest I remember her saying she felt lonely. 

And she had no evidence of Alzheimer’s symptoms or dementia.

Loneliness is apparently a risk factor for dementia.  It’s important to recognize this is different than being socially isolated.

Some folks like – even thrive – when alone.  Or living what others might consider social isolation.

A recent study from The Netherlands confirms that people who feel lonely are more likely to develop dementia in old age.  This study showed that it is the feeling of loneliness. not actual social isolation that is the risk factor.

Here’s part of the abstract from the journal article showing people who feel lonely have a 64% increased risk of developing dementia -

Feelings of loneliness, but not social isolation, predict dementia onset: results from the Amsterdam Study of the Elderly (AMSTEL)

Tjalling Jan Holwerda, Dorly J H Deeg, Aartjan T F Beekman, Theo G van Tilburg, Max L Stek, Cees Jonker, Robert A Schoevers

Background

Known risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias include medical conditions, genetic vulnerability, depression, demographic factors and mild cognitive impairment. The role of feelings of loneliness and social isolation in dementia is less well understood, and prospective studies including these risk factors are scarce.

Results

After adjustment for other risk factors, older persons with feelings of loneliness were more likely to develop dementia (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.56) than people without such feelings. Social isolation was not associated with a higher dementia risk in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Feeling lonely rather than being alone is associated with an increased risk of clinical dementia in later life and can be considered a major risk factor that, independently of vascular disease, depression and other confounding factors, deserves clinical attention. Feelings of loneliness may signal a prodromal stage of dementia. A better understanding of the background of feeling lonely may help us to identify vulnerable persons and develop interventions to improve outcome in older persons at risk of dementia.

Original Source:

Feelings of loneliness, but not social isolation, predict dementia onset: results from the Amsterdam Study of the Elderly (AMSTEL)

Is loneliness the cause or result of dementia?

Good question.  And one that likely is not answered – yet.  It also may vary between individuals.  What is known is feeling lonely is a risk factor for developing dementia later.

Whether loneliness is a cause or result of dementia, the findings are intriguing.  Could preventing loneliness prevent dementia? 

Encouraging someone to feel loved and needed may be one way to fight dementia and Alzheimers symptoms.

Caring for someone with dementia including Alzheimer’s symptoms can be challenging, to say the least.  Even a routine trip or errand can become a struggle.  Especially if folks around you are upset. 

Now you can discretely let others know that you are with someone with Alzheimers symptoms or another dementia.

Silently without alerting the whole room.  Just click here now for cards to carry with you.

To your happy and healthy caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder of www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Creator of A HEART PLAN
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Post:

Alzheimers Symptoms: Feeling Lonely Is a Risk Factor For Dementia While Being Alone Is Not?

This year CaregivingWithPurpose.com is joining Caregiving.com’s Annual Holiday Progressive Blog Party.   It’s a fun way to reduce caregiver stress.

If you’re new here, this site is to nurture and support caregivers.  I’m Ina Gilmore, and have been both a family caregiver and a physician.  I learned about multigenerational caregiving as a child.  As the oldest I helped with younger siblings.  One of my grandmothers lived with us for a while when I was a child.

Caregiving With Purpose is designed to help you navigate caregiving.  Whether you are just getting started, have been caregiving a long time, or are moving on to the next phase you’ll find inspiration, tips and information here.

Be sure to visit Caregiving.com this week.  Denise has prizes and more fun!  What a great idea to have fun and reduce caregiver stress at the holidays through blogging!

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, the holidays are often a time of increased stress.  And caregivers often find themselves at increased stress during this time.  Added to the holiday stress is the stress of your support system often wanting and needing time off.  Whether it’s your doctor’s office or your home help, it can add to your stress.

How can you reduce holiday caregiver stress?

• Planning ahead of time for a backup plan can help.  Do you have someone you can call to help?  How about two or more folks just in case one is not available?
• Have you considered reducing your caregiver stress through delegating holiday tasks to someone else?  Maybe it’s time another family member takes over for you.  At least for this year.
• Watching a favorite holiday movie on DVD or TV can also give you a needed respite.  How about playing recordings of your and your loved one’s favorite Christmas carols?
• Even if you don’t feel like decorating the whole house, how about a little Christmas decorating?  Maybe a table top tree? A little Christmas decorating in an invalid’s room can make a world of difference.
• Remember to laugh and enjoy the season!

Claim your FREE Daily Inspirational Thoughts for Caregivers by clicking here now.

To your healthy and happy caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

The added work of holiday events and traditions can add to an already overwhelmed plate.  And often holidays are bittersweet, because it is a time for remembering.

This week I found myself needing some words of encouragement.  December has always been a time of memories for me, including memories of caregiver stress. 

If I’m not careful, I find myself wallowing in unpleasant memories of those who made their final journey Home in December. 

And just when it those memories hit, I realized my Camellia plant is in bloom!

The fragile blossoms survived November’s freezes and frosts, and the earliest ones are opening.  It starts blooming in December, a glorious reminder of the promise of spring and life renewed even in winter.

At just the right time, I was reminded of a promise in Isaiah 43:19

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

Nature can be a source of inspiration.  Also inspirational thoughts are a source of encouragement.  You can find them in many places, including books and online.

One of my favorites are Bible verses that uplift and strengthen.  I found a blog post that lists some, and here’s the post -

Bible Verses For Encouragement: 20 Great Scripture Quotes

We all need to be lifted up and encouraged at times and the Bible is a great source for encouragement. The Bible is the living word of God and feeds us through the promises of God found in scripture. I have listed some of my favorite Bible verses for encouragement. These verses have lifted my spirit in times of need and I hope they do the same for you. Please also consider a deeper study of the Bible by looking up these verses and reading the context they come from. I pray these great scripture quotes are encouraging for you today!

Strength Quotes For Encouragement

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Comfort And Encouragement Bible Verses

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Peace Scripture Quotes For Encouragement

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Encouragement Through God’s Promises

•  The Promise of Eternal Life

John 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

•   God’s Faithful

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

•  God promises To Guide Us

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

•  All Scripture Is Inspired From God- The Bible Is The True Word Of God

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

• God Hears Our Prayers

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Christian Encouragement Quotes

God will not be absent when His people are on trial; he will stand in court as their advocate, to plead on their behalf.  –Charles Haddon Spurgeon

You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. –Max Lucado

Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. –George Mueller

The stars may fall, but God’s promises will stand and be fulfilled. –J. I. Packer

Resources

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

www.biblegateway.com

Read More of the Original Post at:

Bible Verses For Encouragement: 20 Great Scripture Quotes

Quite a list, and it is no way all inclusive. 

One of my favorite scriptures is, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20.

Many times feeling alone and forgotten, that scripture would come to mind as a reminder I was not alone. 

Are you making plans for the holidays to reduce your caregiver stress?

It’s important to think about ways to help reduce your stress.  It can be a simple as getting a break every day.  Reading verses of encouragement, looking for signs of life and beauty around you, just looking outside your caregiving can all help.

You may also need to ask family to help with the holidays.

Reducing caregiver stress is an important part of caring for someone and also for caring for the caregiver.  Now you can start with your FREE Daily Inspirational Thoughts.

Click here now to get your FREE Daily Inspirational Thoughts.

To your healthy and happy caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Post:

Where Can I Find Encouragement When Dealing With Caregiver Stress During the Holidays?