You love your mother. She has been a great support for you throughout much of your life. You would consider her one of your best friends. It’s one of the reasons why you live in the same town as her. As you got married and raised your own family, you appreciated the fact that she was a part of the entire journey. Now that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease you haven’t even thought twice about not being there for her.
Home Care Services Florida City FL – Frustration Can Mount When Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s
First, though, understand your limits.
Everyone has limits. Even though this is your mother and you would do anything you could for her, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. Alzheimer’s, like many other forms of dementia, can take a significant toll emotionally on the entire family.
As the disease progresses it may require more and more support and care through the years. You may not have the kind of time and energy to devote to your mother you would like, especially as the memory loss and other symptoms begin to increase in severity.
Understand your limits and make sure you don’t exceed them. If you don’t set limits you will find the frustration beginning to mount, most likely when you least expect it and, far too often, when you can least afford to deal with it.
Understand the stages of the disease.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. It will move through various stages. In the beginning your mother will probably be able to take care of herself for the most part, perhaps with only minimal assistance. Your help might be more than enough for her to remain comfortable and safe at home.
However, as she moves to the middle and later stages of the disease, things are going to change dramatically. If you don’t understand the anticipated changes that will occur, you can be caught by surprise.
Realize that home care services are a positive aspect.
The earlier your mother begins relying on experienced and professional home care support, the better it’s going to be for her down the road. That’s because experienced caregivers help their elderly clients develop routines. Those routines will become habits. When your mother is confused about her surroundings and is feeling anxious and scared, that routine can offer her comfort.
If you plow ahead without thinking carefully, you may find the stress overwhelming you. You can get frustrated, get short tempered, and that can not just harm your relationships, but it can also create more challenges for your mother that need not happen.
