How Alzheimer’s Stresses Families

Receiving a diagnosis that a member of your family has Alzheimer’s can be shocking and it can turn your world upside down. Whether you’re a family caregiver, relative, or friend of a senior with Alzheimer’s, you will experience a whole range of emotions and challenges, and while you might feel like you have no right to acknowledge them because you’re not the one forced to live with the disease, it’s important to understand that sometimes it can be about you. Phoenix seniors living with Alzheimer’s may not be aware of the changes taking place in them as they progress with the disease, but as the people closest to them, you are forced to face them head on and that can seem unbearable. It’s not easy seeing someone you love transform before your eyes; losing independence and skills, unable to recognize the significant locations and people in their lives. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the need to focus on the senior; their needs and their emotions, but think about you as well. Step back when you need a break from providing care by hiring a home care agency when you need to get away from the affects of Alzheimer’s; join a support group for families living with Alzheimer’s; and most importantly, acknowledge and deal with your feelings. It’s not selfish to worry about yourself when a loved one has Alzheimer’s; to provide adequate care and the emotional support that they require from you, you need to take care of yourself as well.