The struggle in providing care for those with dementia explained.
Struggles of Dementia Caregivers: A Growing Concern
Dementia caregiving is a challenging task, often leaving caregivers facing significant physical and emotional burdens. According to various studies, caregivers of dementia patients suffer from caregiver burnout, struggle to maintain their health, and experience a disrupted work-life balance.
As dementia progresses, caregiving tasks become increasingly difficult. The person with dementia may display behavioral changes, such as becoming temperamental, disoriented, and forgetful, which can be deeply hurtful for family caregivers. In the initial stages, routine tasks like cleaning, bathing, and meal preparation may seem manageable, but as the condition advances, the demands on the caregiver escalate.
Dementia-affected seniors require more care compared to healthy seniors in their 80s and 90s. Approximately 30 to 90 percent of persons with dementia suffer from behavioral disorders, making caregiving even more challenging. These behavioral issues can lead to aggressive or abusive incidents between caregivers and the person with dementia, further worsening the caregiver's health and stress.
The job of a family caregiver gets harder with time as they discover new problems as the condition progresses. A survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in 2020 reported that 23 percent of caregivers find it difficult to take care of their own health. Caregivers often arrive late at work and leave early, making keeping the job even more difficult.
A majority of dementia caregivers do not have a proper support system, leaving them feeling lonely and isolated. This lack of support contributes to psychosocial strain, as many caregivers lack sufficient knowledge about dementia and effective coping strategies.
However, with proper guidance, support, and camaraderie, a caregiver can manage to perform both caregiver and non-caregiving-related duties well. The burden of family obligations can force a caregiver to turn down promotions or change careers. But with the right resources and interventions, it is possible to mitigate the effects of dementia caregiving on a caregiver's health and work-life balance.
In summary, dementia caregiving involves escalating care complexity that heavily strains caregivers' physical and mental well-being and disrupts their work-life balance. Comprehensive psychological support, education, and respite interventions are crucial to help caregivers cope with the challenges of dementia caregiving and maintain their own health and well-being.
References:
- National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Public Policy Institute
- Alzheimer's Disease International
- World Health Organization
- University of Basel
- Zippia
- To address the growing concerns of dementia caregivers, science has become increasingly focused on workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness programs that offer mental-health support and resources.
- In an effort to support dementia caregivers, many organizations provide education-and-self-development resources, offering insight into mental health, fitness-and-exercise routines, and career-development strategies.
- Recognizing the unique challenges faced by dementia caregivers, some workplaces are adopting flexible schedules as a means to preserve their caregivers' work-life balance.
- Aware of the importance of lifelong learning and personal growth, many dementia caregivers pursue education-and-self-development opportunities, aiming to expand their knowledge of caregiving best practices and self-care techniques.
