Coping Tools for Caregivers

1
Coping Tools for Caregivers

• The Dementia Conference 2008
• March 29, 2008
• Sarah K. Lageman, Ph.D.
• Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

2
Caregiving Issues and Sources of
Stress

• Variable symptoms
• Process of an official diagnosis
• Vague information
• Unclear diagnosis
• Vague estimates of rate of progression

3
Caregiving Issues and Sources of
Stress

• Changes in your partnership
• Increased responsibilities
• Changed future plans and goals
• Concern about the future
• Medical
• Assisted care needs
• Finances
• Safety

4
Changes in Your Daily Routines

• Sleep problems
• Poor eating habits
• Increased smoking or drinking
• Less exercise
• Less recovery time for your own illnesses
• Less care to your own medical needs

5
Symptoms of Caregiver Stress

• Sadness
• Depression
• Guilt
• Grief
• Loneliness
• Irritability
• Frustration
• Anger
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions

• Insomnia
• Weight changes
• Appetite changes
• Reduced personal care
• Reduced participation in personally meaningful
  activities

6
Coping Skills

• Diverse sources of support
• Self
• Other individuals
• Groups
• Mental health professionals

7
Personal Coping Skills

• Self-care behaviors
• Exercising
• Listening to music, reading
• Getting massages, taking baths, etc.
• Participation in meaningful activities
• Working
• Hobbies
• Volunteering
• Breaks from caregiving

8
A Support Network of Individuals

• Family members
• Supportive
• Helpful with specific tasks
• Distant
• Friends
• Fun
• Assistance
• Problem-solving help
• Caregiving mentors

9
A Support Network of Groups

• Religious or spiritual groups
• Adult Day Care Centers
• Support Groups
• Alzheimers Association
• Association of Frontotemporal Dementia
• State Departments of Aging

10
Mental Health Professionals

• Psychologists
• Individual Therapy
• Supportive
• Cognitive-Behavioral
• Group Therapy
• Psychiatrists
• Social Workers

11
Topics of Psychotherapy

• Adjustment
• Diagnosis
• Changes in your partnership
• Problem-solving challenges
• Initiating change
• Information about care options
• Help making and feeling comfortable about
  decisions

12
Topics of Psychotherapy

• Emotional Issues
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Guilt
• Fear
• Misconceptions about caregiving
• Re-development of personal goals

13
National Resources

• Alzheimers Association
• www.alz.org or 1-800-272-3900
• Search for Chapters in your area
• Coach Broyles Playbook for Alzheimers
  Caregivers A Practical Tips Guide
  (www.alzheimersplaybook.com)
• http//www.alzforum.org for general information
  about Alzheimers Disease

14
National Resources

• Alzheimers Association
• http//www.alzforum.org/dis/car/default.asp for
  caregiving information
• www.alz.org/carefinder/index.asp for Carefinder,
  a national tool to help people choose home and
  residential care providers based on individual
  needs and preferences

15
National Resources

• Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center
  (ADEAR) at 1-800-438-4380 or http//www.nia.nih.go
  v/alzheimers
• National Respite LocatorService 1-800-773-5433
  (toll-free) www.respitelocator.org
• Eldercare Locator1-800-677-1116
  (toll-free)www.eldercare.gov

16
National Resources

• National Association of Area Agencies on
  Aging202-872-0888www.n4a.org
• Meals on Wheels Association of America703-548-555
  8www.mowaa.org
• National Adult Day Services Association1-877-745-
  1440 (toll-free)www.nadsa.org

17
National Resources

• Family Caregiver Alliance at 1-800-445-8106 or
  http//www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/home.jsp
• Fact sheet on Taking Care of YOU Self-Care for
  Family Caregivers (http//www.caregiver.org/caregi
  ver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid847)
• Fact sheets on Alzheimers Disease and Dementia
• Handbook for Long-Distance Caregivers
• 50-State Searchable Resource Map

18
National Resources

• For information on day care, in-home care, and
  hospice care
• National Council on Aging at http//www.ncoa.org/
  or 202-479-1200
• National Association for Home Care and Hospice at
  www.nahc.org/
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
  at www.nhpco.org/ or 703-837-1500

19
National Resources

• The Association of Frontotemporal Dementias
• http//www.ftd-picks.org/
• http//www.ftd-picks.org/?pcaregiver.managing
  for managing difficult behaviors
• Lewy Body Dementia Association
• http//www.lewybodydementia.org/ with links for
  information and caregiver resources

20
State Resources

• Minnesota Department of Human Services
• http//www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService
  GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSIONRevisionSelectionMethodLat
  estReleaseddDocNameAging for Aging section with
  Home and Community Services link
• North Dakota Department of Human Services
• http//www.nd.gov/dhs/services/adultsaging/ for
  Adults and Aging Services
• Family Caregiver Support Program

21
Library Resources

• Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's Disease (Distributed
  by Kensington Publishing Corp., New York, NY
  ISBN 1-893005-22-4
• The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care,"
  by Virginia Bell, M.S.W., and David Troxel,
  M.P.H. ISBN 1-878812-35-1
• Alzheimer's Disease. Published by the American
  Academy of Neurology and available from the AAN
  Online Store at www.aan.com.

22
Resources

• Mental Health Professionals
• American Psychological Association at www.apa.org
  or 1-800-964-2000 to connect with the referral
  service of the state psychological association
• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive
  Therapies at http//aabt.org/ or [phone]
• Ask about experience with caregiving issues and
  knowledge about dementias

23
Challenges

• Identifying barriers to self-care
• Initiating changes
• Small action steps
• Record behaviors and goals
• Knowing what changes to try

24
Develop a Team

• Yourself
• Your support network
• Medical care team members
• Members from resource agencies for individuals
  with dementia and caregivers