Carers of those with Alzheimer's - Blue Sky Social Care Card

World Alzheimer’s Month

World Alzheimer’s Month is an international event held annually in September, run by Alzheimer’s Disease International, (ADI). The aim of the month is to raise awareness about the struggles of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, plus the societal stigma around it.

What is Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that gradually ruins memory and cognitive skills. Eventually, those with the disease are unable to carry out simple tasks. There are approximately 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK. These numbers are set to rise as our population continues to age.

Dementia is the name for a group of symptoms associated with a continuing deterioration of one’s brain function. It can affect memory, thinking skills and other cognitive abilities.

The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet known, although multiple things are thought to increase your risk of developing the condition.

Such as:

Struggles of those Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s/Dementia

When taking care of someone else, it can be exhausting even on the good days. Sometimes, carers find it hard to take care of themselves after caring for others constantly, this leads to carer burnout. Taking time to take care of your mental and physical wellbeing can make all the difference.

Unlike other conditions, caring for someone with dementia can lead to feelings of guilt, grief, confusion or anger, especially if that person if a loved one. Many carers feel they’re not doing a good job but there is no such thing as a ‘perfect carer’.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society unpaid carers supporting someone with Alzheimer’s/Dementia save the economy a staggering £11 billion every year.

Help for those Caring

Being a carer to someone with Alzheimer’s/Dementia can be particularly exhausting, especially as their condition progresses. However, selfcare needs to be a priority, because if you neglect yourself, you will feel more exhausted, more quickly and caring will feel harder and harder. This can lead to feelings of guilt, depression and burnout.

To avoid this, try your best to:

Eat well, at least 3 meals a day and drink plenty of water.
Getting plenty of sleep can be difficult if you’re worried about your care responsibilities, however sleep will do your mental and physical wellbeing wonders.
Exercise, even if it’s a walk to the corner shop. It means your getting some fresh air, moving and getting those feel-good transmitters (endorphins) going!

The Practical Bits

Getting practical things in order can really help with your overall stress. A few things to look into:

You can make your home Alzheimer’s/Dementia friendly so you are not constantly worrying about the person you’re supporting. Here is an article with some great tips: Dementia Friendly Home

If you’re new to caring for someone with Alzheimer’s/Dementia, learning to communicate with them in an effective way could really help you and them. Here is an article with some great tips: Dementia Friendly Communication