Each year, the first week of August is celebrated as National Simplify Your Life Week. It’s a time to reduce the number of extraneous things that clutter your life and mind. It’s an important part of self-care.
You take care of your mom, and she has Alzheimer’s disease. Decluttering your mind and life has never been more important. It’s time to focus on self-care, and that often means hiring Alzheimer’s care aides for your mom.
What Do Alzheimer’s Care Aides Do?
Even the most dedicated family caregiver reaches a point where caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s is just too much. One issue that arises and is always unexpected is rage. It often goes hand-in-hand with sundowning.
Your mom will be calm and pleasant all afternoon but something shifts. She turns into a very angry person who is biting, hitting, kicking, slapping, and hurling insults. You’re not supposed to let it bother you, but it’s incredibly hard to always shrug off being the target of that rage.
It’s also hard to do some of the aspects of care that your mom needs. She can no longer stand on her own. She has to be supported by her walker or a person. In the shower, you’re just not strong enough to hold her up.
Your mom has to be fed her meals. She lacks the motor skills to lift a fork or spoon and get the items to her mouth. It’s too emotionally painful for you to see your mom in that diminished state.
Alzheimer’s care aides can do all of these tasks. They can also help your mom get dressed, take her medications, and trim her nails. Caregivers specializing in Alzheimer’s care can help your mom with toileting and change incontinence pads and underwear as needed.
How Should You Get Started With Self-Care?
Once your mom is in the care of a skilled caregiver, you’re able to take care of yourself. Alzheimer’s care services enable you to focus on your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Have you been putting off your own doctor’s appointments? It’s common for family caregivers to do that. Schedule an appointment and get caught up on immunizations, scans, and blood tests. You may feel embarrassed, but doctors are happier to have you catch up than to let embarrassment keep you away. They will not make you feel guilty.
Join a support group and seek comfort and advice from others in your situation. You all have something in common, and that helps you form essential beneficial friendships. If there is no support group in your community, find an online one. It’s one of the most important things you’ll do.
Take a break. Go on vacation or arrange to have Alzheimer’s care aides while you’re at work. Call an agency to get started.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Alzheimer’s care in Billings, MT, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Billings today. 406-839-2390
