Stages of Caregiving
FRUSTRATION
Wide range of emotions surface
- Denial
- Anger and rage
- Guilt
- Loneliness
- Embarrassment
- Panic
ISOLATION
- Outings decrease
- Friends drop away
- Activities decrease
- Depression over relationship changes
RESENTMENT
- Patient’s dependency too burdensome
- Bitterness over changed life plans
DETACHMENT
- Worries of abandoning patient
- Consider placement options
- Life after caregiving surfaces
RELIEF vs. DESPAIR
- New feelings surface
- Relief over end of difficult phase
- Numbness – feeling nothing doesn’t hurt
- Sadness, grief over loss of loved one
- Despair
IMPORTANT CAREGIVER QUESTIONS
- Did anyone offer help during the week?
- What was the outcome of this help?
- Did YOU ask anyone for help this week?
- What was the outcome of the favour you asked?
- Who could you have asked this week and what could they have done?
Solution Possibilities
VENT: LET IT OUT BEFORE EXPLODING
- Learn disease stages and symptoms
- Throw/hit pillows, verbalize “why me?”
- Validate your negative feelings
- Plan and do things outside your home
- Plan and do fun things inside your home
CONCENTRATE ON THE EXTERNAL
- Investigate new activities
- Keep up social contacts
- Participate in favourite activities
- Set time/place to grieve loss
ALTER IMPOSSIBLE “SHOULDS”
- Seek and accept help
- Write new life plan with illness
NURTURE YOUR INDEPENDENCE
- Seek independence in small steps
- Respite…home care…day care
- Revel in new freedoms; do new things
DEVELOP POSITIVE FEELINGS
- Confide in trusted friend/family member/support group
- Commiserate with other caregivers
- Support group: share wisdom/give help
- Crying is good therapy
- Develop coping mechanisms
(Reprinted by permission from the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Alaska)Develop coping mechanisms