Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease brings up a lot of different feelings and situations that family caregivers may not be prepared for at first. Some of the most startling feelings are often the grief and loss that so many families feel even while Alzheimer’s patients are still alive. Alzheimer’s care providers understand how complicated this all is and they can help families cope with their feelings as Alzheimer’s worsens.
What Is Anticipatory Grief?
When people experience anticipatory grief, they’re feeling grief and loss before an event actually occurs. In the case of Alzheimer’s patients, the losses are typically related to the cognitive and personality changes that seniors experience. Family members see these changes and understand what they mean. Even though the Alzheimer’s patient hasn’t passed away, they’re not the same as they once were and that has a huge impact on families.
Emotional Challenges with Alzheimer’s Disease
Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease brings up other feelings besides just grief and loss. Family members might also feel sad, angry, and frustrated for a variety of reasons. They might also feel a lot of guilt about needing time away from caregiving responsibilities or not having the relationship that they wanted to have before Alzheimer’s disease progressed. Family caregivers can also feel isolated and alone because Alzheimer’s caregiving can be so all-consuming.
Strategies for Coping
The first step in coping with anticipatory grief is for family members to accept their feelings and acknowledge them. Feeling those feelings is the fastest way to process them and let them go. Journaling, talking to trusted friends, or joining a support group are all ways to work through and express feelings about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.
Accept Help from Others
So many families try to care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease on their own for as long as they can. The problem is that they’re typically handling way too much without help. Home care providers offer necessary assistance with tasks like preparing meals, managing daily tasks, and helping seniors with personal care tasks. Alzheimer’s care providers understand the challenges that come with Alzheimer’s disease and can help families deal with the various situations that arise.
Honor the Senior’s Legacy
Something else that can help a lot is for families to celebrate the person they love now before they pass away. Preserving and honoring the legacy of Alzheimer’s patients can be a powerful way for family members to work through the anticipatory grief they might be experiencing. Finding ways to create lasting memories offers a lot of comfort. It is probably also easier to do than many families think it might be to make this happen.
Grieving while caring for a beloved family member is so difficult. Alzheimer’s care providers give families compassionate assistance with learning how to cope with those feelings while also supporting the person with Alzheimer’s disease. Families experiencing anticipatory grief because of Alzheimer’s disease can find the support they need to make every moment they have left with their family member count as much as possible.
If you are considering Alzheimer’s care in Memorial, TX for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
At Your Side Home Care, provides exceptional home care assistance for seniors and families in Houston, West Houston, Katy, Memorial, The Heights, Spring Valley, Garden Oaks, Hunters Creek, River Oaks, Hilshire Village, Galleria, Cinco Ranch, Spring Branch, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenburg, Piney Point, Bay City and surrounding areas.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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