Caregivers Have to Cut Themselves Slack

[Guest guest]

Caregivers Have to Cut Themselves Slack

(Source: News-Press.com) - As many as seventy percent of husbands or

wives, caring for their spouse with Alzheimer's, die first. And the

stress of caring for a loved one with this disease can take 10 years

off the life expectancy of the caregiver spouse.

There is incredible stress on the spouse who is trying to keep their

loved one at home and out of the nursing home for as long as they

possibly can. Yet few caregivers take advantage of all the resources

available to them, including assistance from other family members and

friends, local Alzheimer's organizations and, most importantly, adult

daycare.

Adult day care centers are facilities that provide activities and non-

medical care for persons with dementia for as little as two days a

week to five days a week from 8 am to 5 pm. Or, the ill spouse could

go to the adult day care center five days a week, with the

expectation that other family members would provide care on the

weekends.

Most operate on what is called the " social model " which provides

entertainment, companionship, fun and games, and daytime meals -

essentially adult baby sitting, and that may be all that is needed.

These social model facilities often have all their attendees in one

big room and provide safe daytime care.

This allows their spouse or caregiver to go shopping, run errands or

just get some rest.

Regardless, day care centers provide much-needed time, rest and

respite that caregivers need for their own well-being.

Go to full story: http://tinyurl.com/ytvyne

The above story lets you know how you can find all the adult day

centers in FL... FYI for other states, contact your local Alz.

Association. The one in my state emailed me a database w/ all the

local day centers in MA. (they also provided me w/ several other

databases (NHs, at-home services, ALFs, etc.) -- this is so I could

provide to those who attend my local support group meeting, but I'm

sure every state's alz. assoc. has their own resources available to

those who ask.

[Guest guest]

This is an article that Oprah's staff should read!

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