| How to Overcome Obstacles Posted: 08 Nov 2016 04:00 PM PST Congratulations. You've already achieved the first step: facing your obstacles. Many people ignore them instead, or treat them as permanent barriers. Walk up to yours and give them a hard shove instead. EditAnalyzing Obstacles - Figure out what's holding you back. Sit down and work out exactly what stands in the way of your goals. Get as specific as possible about what your goals are, and exactly why you are having trouble meeting them. You'll need plenty of self-awareness to chart out a course of action. Try not to dredge up your usual list of complaints, as this often falls apart into excuses.[1]
- If you said "I don't have enough time," think about how you prioritize your time and energy. The real obstacle could be procrastination, careerism, or external events.
- If you said "I don't have enough money," this is also often about priorities. The more immediate obstacle might be a lack of time or a lack of motivation, or you might need to learn how to make money and save what you have.
- Think about your history with this obstacle. How long has the obstacle been in your path? What behaviors or negative thoughts keep the obstacle alive, or prevent you from working through it?[2] Answering these questions may help you identify the changes you need to make.
- For example, if you've felt "stuck" ever since you moved to a new home, there could be something in your new environment or lifestyle that's affecting you. For instance, your distance from friends and family could be sapping your motivation.
- Find similarities to previous obstacles. Take a minute to think about other obstacles you've encountered in your life. Whether or not your approach worked then, learn from your experience as you approach the next challenge.
- For example, if you previously burned out after an overambitious New Year's resolution, try to ramp up more slowly this time.
- Determine what you control. Some obstacles seem beyond your control, so daunting that you have no idea how to get through them. This experience is often paired with fear or another strong emotional reaction. Take a deep breath, put pen to paper, and ask yourself what you can control.[3]
- You can control your attitude.
- You can control how much effort you put in.
- You can control your decision when an opportunity is offered to you.
- You can control your diet, exercise, and sleep schedule, which can improve your mood and alertness.
- Analyze interpersonal issues. Some of the most frustrating obstacles are the ones that involve other people. Emotions or gut reactions can cloud your judgement and make the obstacle seem more impossible than it is. Try to break the problem down and discover what actually stands in your way:[4]
- Often, it takes both people to contribute to the obstacle. Rein in your own reaction with mental "stoppers," such as a deep breath, or counting to ten in your head.
- Listen to the other person's problems, or try to think of them from his perspective. Solve what the other person sees as an obstacle, and you may solve your own problems.
- In the worst case scenario, restructure your interactions to avoid situations where disagreements arise.
EditOvercoming Obstacles - Break your goals into smaller chunks. No one can leap to the top of Mount Everest in one step. Shrink that daunting mountain into a series of more manageable goals.[5] Write a checklist, then ask yourself what obstacles prevent you from achieving the first box.
- For instance, if your goal is to become a doctor, one looming obstacle might be getting a college education. After breaking it down, your new first goal becomes filling out a college application form. Overcome your first obstacle by picking up a pen!
- Consider creative solutions. Once you've listed your obstacles, take a moment to think of alternate paths to your goals. Is there any way to reach your goal while avoiding the obstacles entirely? These shortcuts don't happen often, but it's worth taking the time to brainstorm.
- Talk to someone who's already attained the goal you're aiming for. She may be familiar with routes you've never heard of.
- For example, many companies prefer job candidates from inside the company.[6] Maybe you can get hired at your dream company for a less competitive position, and work your way up the ladder, or transfer to a different department.
- Keep an active plan. Put your plan in writing, starting with what you'll do today and ending with achieving your goal. Now recognize that your plan will change. This is just the first stage, which will set your feet on the road. As you learn, grow, and encounter new obstacles, adapt your plan to find the best path forward at each moment.[7]
- Track your progress. As you work toward your goal, keep a journal or chart of your progress and your setbacks.[8] Set yourself several milestones along the way, and make sure to reward yourself for each one.
- Seek advice and support. Find people with similar goals, or encouraging friends. Make yourself accountable by sharing your goals and milestones. Seek advice from people with more experience than you, who may have overcome the exact same obstacles.
- There are thousands of people who share your career, hobby, bad habit, or relationship struggle. Look for local organizations and online forums where you can talk about your experiences and trade advice.
- Break bad habits. Even if they aren't the obstacles you are trying to avoid, bad habits can set anyone back. Treat these as a whole new obstacle, overcoming the habit with goals and milestones just like any other.
- Visualize your goal for motivation. When you get discouraged, close your eyes and picture yourself after you've overcome the obstacle. Remind yourself frequently why you're putting in the hard work and making the sacrifices. It will all be worth it when you shatter the last obstacle at your feet.
- Hone your problem-solving skills. If you tend to make decisions based on gut instinct, try a more analytic approach. Here are a few possible approaches when you're trying to make a decision:
- Cost-benefit analysis: Write down what you would gain from a decision, and what you would lose. Decide whether the benefits worth the drawbacks.
- Worst case scenario: If you attempt something and it fails completely, where do you end up? Come up with a backup plan for this scenario.
- Write a list of all your concerns, and treat each as a separate problem. Anxiety over a long-distance move might include finances, losing touch with friends, and your child transitioning schools. Solve each problem separately.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way.
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| How to Treat TMJ Problems Without Surgery Posted: 08 Nov 2016 08:00 AM PST Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jawbones to your skull on the side of your head. A TMJ disorder is a condition that causes pain and dysfunction in your jaw, your jaw joint, and the facial muscles that help to move your jaw. Fortunately, with a combination of lifestyle strategies and non-invasive medical and dental treatments, most people can get rid of TMJ problems without resorting to surgery. EditUsing Lifestyle Strategies - See your dentist, who may prescribe physical therapy exercises. There are a variety of exercises that can be used in the treatment of TMJ problems. The main aim of these exercises is to make use of your jaw muscles and to increase the jaw's mobility without fear of pain.[1]
- Most exercises are focused on relaxing the muscles of your neck, your shoulders, and your jaw. Tension in any of these can worsen TMJ pain.
- If your dentist identifies "trigger points" for your TMJ pain (trigger points are areas of muscle that are prone to causing you pain), she may recommend that you see a massage therapist for help in loosening these muscles.
- Avoid motions or activities that cause pain to your jaw.[2] This may sound obvious, but avoiding triggers for your jaw pain, such as chewing gum, yawning, or even singing, can help to prevent worsening of the pain. Also, eating softer foods can help, as this decreases the stress and strain of chewing.
- Pencil biting, pipe smoking and other repetitive movements and positions (such as with playing certain instruments like the violin or viola) are also thought to be associated with TMJ.
- Opt for foods such as oatmeal, eggs, mashed potatoes, soups, and other options that are gentle on your jaw in order to decrease the pain.
- Focus on good posture.[3] Especially for those who work at a computer all day, getting up to move around and changing posture frequently is important. TMJ problems can be worsened by tense neck and shoulder muscles, which happens frequently to those who are poised over a computer keyboard all day.
- If at all possible, break up your workday by scheduling in a walk or other activity every couple of hours. This will give your neck and shoulder muscles a chance to relax, and may help to ease the discomfort in your TMJ.
- In addition, pay attention to sleeping positions. Sleeping on your side or stomach may put pressure on your jaw, exacerbating TMJ pain. Try to sleep on your back instead, and don't elevate your head too much.[4]
- Apply heat to relax your jaw muscles. Applying heat can increase the blood flow to your jaw muscles and help to relax them. Start by taking a warm, moist towel and place it on the side of your jaw. Apply the towel for five minutes or until you feel increased comfort.[5]
- You can apply this warm, moist towel four to five times in a day.
- This procedure can help relieve discomfort and increase jaw flexibility.
- Use ice packs to help relieve pain.[6] Applying ice packs can reduce the inflammation and pain by constricting the blood vessels around your TMJ. Use a cold pack, take a plastic bag and fill it with ice cubes, or simply keep a towel in your freezer and apply it on your jaw and face. Apply it for 10 minutes each time, four to five times per day.
- Always wrap cold packs in a towel before applying them to your skin. Putting ice or a cold pack directly on your skin can cause frostbite.
- Massage your jaw area to relax your muscles. Give yourself a gentle massage with your fingertips to relax your jaw muscles and to provide relief from muscle tightness. Take two fingers and apply firm pressure with your fingertips over your jaw area. Move your fingertips over the jaw areas in perpendicular and small sweeping motions.[7]
- You can do this gentle massage for one to two minutes initially, and then three to five minutes on each side of your jaw.
- Always be gentle to avoid further problems and pain.
- Get physically active.[8] If you don't already exercise regularly, now may be a good time to start! Exercise produces endorphins, which are natural pain-killing chemicals in the brain. As a result, maintaining a healthy exercise regime can help to combat the pain in your jaw. A general guideline to follow is to do moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for 30 minutes at least five times per week, or 150 minutes total. Ideally, you want to choose sports that elevate your heart rate such as swimming, biking, speed walking, or running.
- In addition to aerobic exercise, try to incorporate two to three days of strength training, which will build muscle and improve bone density.
EditUsing Medical and Dental Treatments - Take over-the-counter painkillers to reduce mild to moderate inflammation and pain. Using over-the-counter painkillers can inhibit the production of prostaglandin, the substance responsible for pain and inflammation in your body. Do not take these drugs continuously for longer than 10 to 14 days. Any of the following can be tried for pain control:[9][10][11][12]
- Naproxen (275-500 mg twice a day). Naproxen works by inhibiting the release of inflammatory substances, COX-1 and COX-2. This is the medication of choice for treating joint inflammation, because it has been proven to be effective in joint diseases.
- Ibuprofen (200-800 mg every six hours). Ibuprofen provides fast-acting pain and inflammation relief when taken in liquid gel form.
- Acetaminophen (500-1000 mg every four to six hours). This does not help with inflammation, but can serve to combat pain.
- Use muscle relaxants to relax your jaw muscles. These are available over-the-counter or by prescription. Your best bet is to speak to your dentist if simple over-the-counter painkillers have not been sufficient to control your pain. Your dentist can then advise you on which type of muscle relaxant is most effective, or he can recommend another treatment altogether depending upon the nature and severity of your TMJ pain.[13]
- A short-term course of long acting benzodiazepines, such as Valium, can be used to treat severe acute TMJ symptoms.
- Try taking tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs, in low dosages, can help to relieve TMJ-related pain. An example of this medication is amitriptyline (Elavil). Start from a low dose of 10 milligrams, to avoid side effects. The dosage can be increased over time until the pain is relieved.[14]
- For patients who also experience anxiety and/or depression, treating the condition with methods such as medication or relaxation/stress management training can also be helpful for TMJ pain.
- Tricyclic antidepressants are generally considered after lifestyle changes, NSAIDs and muscle relaxers have shown to not be effective.
- Once the effective dose of the tricyclic has been determined, it is generally prescribed for up to four months and then tapered down to a lower dose.
- Take corticosteroids to reduce severe inflammation. Corticosteroids mimic your body's natural adrenal production, causing a reduction in inflammation and pain due to TMJ. Steroids are used when other treatments for TMJ have failed to relieve your pain and discomfort. Your dentist can inject the corticosteroids into your TMJ joint, to help relieve severe pain.
- Get an occlusal splint from your dentist to prevent teeth grinding and clenching. If you have the habit of clenching your jaws and grinding your teeth, your dentist can take a teeth impression and make acrylic splints to fit on your upper and lower teeth. TMJ is weakly associated with teeth grinding (bruxism).[15] These splints help reduce your clenching and grinding habits by preventing the teeth from contacting each other.
- The shape of the splints also helps to keep your teeth in their appropriate positions and to correct bad bites.
- You can wear the occlusal splints throughout the day, except when you are eating.
- You can use night guards that are similar to splints during the night if you have a habit of grinding your teeth.
- Your dentist will advise you on the exact splints or mouth guards that will suit your TMJ problems.
- Using a splint in addition to making lifestyle changes is more effective in treating TMJ pain than using the splint alone.
- Have crowns and bridges put on to correct and adjust your bite. Replacing missing teeth by applying crowns, bridges, and grinding uneven surfaces helps to distribute the biting and chewing forces equally between all your teeth surfaces; however, correction and adjustment rarely provides full relief from TMJ problems.[16]
- Look into osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to relax your jaw muscles and ligaments. In osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), your dentist uses special forceps placed in between your upper and lower teeth to gently open your mouth. The mouth is gradually opened more and more on each visit. With the help of OMT, your ability to open your mouth will improve, even without muscle relaxants.
- Try TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). In TENS, a current or pulse of electricity is applied by a device to stimulate your nerves and contracted muscles. This stimulation makes the muscles contract and relax, almost as if they were massaging themselves. TENS also stimulates the production of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving agents. It is a non-invasive method, and 30 – 60 minutes in each session of TENS normally provides a good result.
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| How to Care for an Alzheimer's Patient As a Family Posted: 08 Nov 2016 12:00 AM PST Millions of people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the numbers will only keep growing as the average lifespan increases. Caring for Alzheimer's patients can be incredibly challenging as the disease progresses, and the burden usually falls upon one or more family members. If you are trying to provide care as a family for a loved one with AD, the challenges of care can be compounded by disagreements, miscommunication, jealousy, anger, and a host of other issues that may erupt. In order to care for an Alzheimer's patient as a family, you need to plan and work as a team, ensure that care needs are continually met, and understand that even a whole family of caregivers can be overwhelmed at times by this punishing disease. EditWorking Together - Hold a family meeting. If you are a family that communicates openly, honestly, and regularly, you will need to put those attributes to use to care for your loved one with AD. If you aren't such a family, you'll need to work on developing those skills as well. You have to have an open, frank, and ongoing discussion about your loved one's care needs, plans, and wishes.[1]
 - In the best case scenario, you will hold this discussion while the person diagnosed with AD can still be a full participant. He or she should be given the opportunity to express his or her care preferences, along with questions, concerns, and fears.
- This is an important enough conversation that a separate, single focus family meeting should be scheduled. Don't try to shoehorn it in before dessert at Thanksgiving dinner.
- Have a calm discussion about what type of care is needed for both the present and future. Having this conversation will provide a base for avoiding confusion in the future.
- Have your family think about their schedules, as well as how to adapt them and coordinate with the primary caregiver for holidays and vacations.
- Each family member should consider their own strengths and skills that they can offer.
- Be sure to show appreciation, reassurance, and positivity to the primary caregiver. This person needs a special amount of support.
- Think about your family's current limits financially, emotionally, and personally.
- Consider getting a professional care manager. These people are usually licensed nurses or social workers specializing in care for older adults.
- Divvy up responsibilities in a practical manner. Almost inevitably, one person (often a spouse or child) becomes the single primary caregiver for a loved one with AD, no matter how involved others intend to be. Try to divide responsibilities among family members fairly, but also accept that practical matters like available time, proximity, and individual skills must play key roles in the process.[2]
- For instance, a sister who lives 100 miles away should probably not be the day-to-day primary caregiver, while a brother who can't balance his own checkbook probably shouldn't be in charge of getting the financial, legal, and medical documents in order.
- Create a "care notebook" that can be distributed and regularly updated. An actual, old-fashioned binder will do, but you'll probably find a virtual "notebook" that can be remotely accessed more practical. Regardless of format, it should include important information on the Alzheimer's patient's care (medications, doctor information, etc.) as well as an agreed-upon breakdown of individual care responsibilities among family members.[3]
- If at any point you feel an overwhelmed, seek help from a friend or a professional, such as social worker or geriatric care manager. Your family and other geriatric care professionals should work together as a team to find solutions for taking care of your loved one with Alzheimer's disease.
- Address important legal, financial, and healthcare matters. In some respects, caring for a loved one with AD is similar to providing end-of-life care over what can be a significantly longer period. In either instance, dealing with lots of important paperwork (and making important decisions) is a component of the caregiving process. Make sure you discuss important legal, financial, and healthcare matters with the gathered family, and include the Alzheimer's patient if his or her condition permits an active role.[4]
- Beyond issues like making sure bills are paid and various policies and plans are kept up-to-date, you should make sure your loved one has both a valid will and a living will (which designates healthcare wishes, among other things).
- While it can sometimes cause disagreements and hard feelings, it is often best if an individual family member is granted a durable power of attorney (to make important legal and/or financial decisions), and that the same or another individual family member is appointed the AD patient's healthcare proxy. All family caregivers should have input, but sometimes there needs to be a single "decider."
- Find resources in your area or online that will give you information about putting the important paperwork together and having a durable power of attorney for health care and asset management. You can look online at the websites of the Family Caregivers' Alliance and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (for estate planning).
- Stick together in the face of changes and challenges. Even if your family gets along quite well, expect disagreements and arguments when caring for a loved one with AD. The realities of caregiving alter existing family dynamics, and can bring longstanding tensions or new disputes to the surface. When times get tough, keep the main goal in mind — providing the compassionate care that your loved one deserves after a lifetime of caring for you.[5]
- Express your feelings and opinions openly and honestly in regular gatherings, and respect the perspectives of other family caregivers. If there are differences that cannot be overcome, seek the assistance of an outside facilitator — such as a counselor, clergy member, or perhaps the AD patient's doctor.[6]
- As an example, deciding if and when an Alzheimer's patient should leave home and move into some type of care facility can often cause family friction. Opinions among family members are bound to vary and be difficult to adjust. Seeking the counsel of someone with experience dealing with Alzheimer's patients may help facilitate compromise.[7]
- You can also find a support group for caregivers. Support groups can help you realize that you are not alone. Many other families are also going through similar experience. You can find both live and online supports groups; look at The Alzheimer's Association website to find one near you.
- Spend time together as a family. The constant care demands of advanced Alzheimer's patients, in particular, may make your other family members feel more like fellow caregivers (working different shifts) than siblings, cousins, etc. Seize opportunities to spend time together under enjoyable circumstances like holiday gatherings or birthday parties. Leave your frustrations and disagreements as caregivers aside for a few hours.[8]
- Involve your loved one with AD in these gatherings whenever possible. Make sure he or she is still treated as a living, breathing, full member of the family. Make practical adjustments when having gatherings at home (like perhaps limiting the number of visitors at any one time or scheduling events earlier in the day, when most AD patients do better) or in public places (like choosing a restaurant that is familiar and accessible to your loved one).
- It is important to remind yourself that the disease, not the person with AD, presents challenges to your life and family. Keep things in perspective, and find humor when you can.
EditProviding Care - Create a safe living environment for your Alzheimer's patient. As the mental and physical decline associated with Alzheimer's moves along its irregular but inevitable path, the risk of injuries due to accidents or confusion will continue to grow. Work as a family to identify and address safety concerns in your loved one's home — or at whatever location it is that he or she now calls home.
- Make changes such as removing trip hazards, locking away sharp or dangerous objects, and adding bright colors and large-print signs (such as a "TOILET INSIDE" sign on the bathroom door) to make the residence safer and more suited to the AD patient's needs and abilities.
- Reassure your family member with AD that they are safe and that you are there to help. These reminders should be really kind and helpful, especially when the person is confused or upset.
- Provide comfortable shoes with good traction. Clear out any walking spaces in the house that might cause your family member with AD to stumble or fall. Some potential hazards you might move are rugs and doormats.
- Stick to routines. Confusion is one of the hallmark symptoms of AD, and it can lead to fear, anger, and hostility on the part of the patient. Setting and keeping a regular daily routine helps keep things more familiar, and may help to limit confusion and anxiety at least to some degree.[9]
 - Keep things simple. You should map out a daily routine for you and your family. If it helps, create a schedule that outlines the entire day, with each family member's responsibilities marked clearly.
- You can vary activities — a puzzle one day before lunch, looking at photo albums the next — but try to keep a consistent daily schedule (wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, take pills, do some light exercises, listen to some music together, etc.). Identify each activity in the daily routine for your loved one.
- Make sure, in particular, that dressing, eating, and bathing times remain consistent. Changing these routines can be really challenging for someone with AD.
- Be careful of "sundowning." Sundowning often occurs for AD patients at night and consists of the person experiencing restlessness and agitation as the sun goes down. Be prepared for this. In the evening, foster a calm and quiet atmosphere. Keep the lights low, reduce the noise level, and play soothing music. Try playing music from the time of your loved one's youth to help lessen confusion and agitation.
- Try to minimize naps.
- Make time for exercise, such as light walking, so that your loved one with AD can have a more restful night's sleep.
- Try to ensure that all caregivers are following similar routines for the sake of consistency. Communicate with your other family members regularly on this topic.
- Encourage two-way communication. Each case of Alzheimer's progresses differently, but patients eventually lose a significant amount of their communication skills, especially verbal ones. Even once it begins to be a challenge to understand what your loved one is trying to say, keep talking with — not at — him or her. Learn to pick up on non-verbal communication cues, like facial expressions and hand gestures, as well.[10]
- Tell family members and visitors to talk to your loved one with AD, even if a coherent conversation is impossible. Remind them not to speak as though the person isn't there.
- Be aware of the tone and pitch of your voice. Do your best to sound calm and respectful, even if you are frustrated.
- Be patient with your loved one's angry outbursts. Remind yourself that this is the result of the disease.
- Take a "timeout" if you get frustrated. Leave the room and sit outside for a few minutes. Do some deep breathing to calm yourself down.
- Ask questions that require a "yes" or "no" answer.
- Allow extra time for your loved one to listen to you.
- Talk to your family member in a well-lit room.
- Face the person as your are talking to them.
- Show and demand respect for your loved one as a person. In addition to talking as though an AD patient is not present in the room, people sometimes (and usually without any malicious intent) lose sight of treating AD patients with dignity and respect. They might, for instance, change soiled clothing in plain view of others. Remind yourself and others that no matter the progression of the disease, the patient is still a person — and a very important person to you.[11]
- Work together as a family of caregivers to ensure that basic hygiene and grooming efforts are kept up, especially if your loved one took special pride in his or her appearance. When it comes to clothing, for instance, emphasize comfort and simplicity in getting items on and off, but don't allow your loved one to sit in the same dirty clothes for days.
- Accept that an irregular but ongoing decline will occur. Alzheimer's at present cannot be cured, stopped, or substantially delayed, and your loved one's condition will continue to worsen. The transition from mild to moderate to severe AD can happen quickly, or can take many years. Take measures recommended or approved by your loved one's medical team to try to delay the worsening of symptoms, but accept that your primary goal as a caregiving family will inevitably be to create as comfortable and loving of an environment as possible.[12]
- Whether or not it can actually help delay the worsening of the disease, keeping an Alzheimer's patient physically, mentally, and socially active as long as possible will provide benefits to your loved one and you as a caregiver. See How to Help Alzheimer's Patients Stay Active for specific advice on this topic.
- Be aware of your loved one's needs. People with AD can often have bouts of aggression and irritation. Sometimes these are related to AD, but they could also stem from a range of other things. Keep an eye out for the following things that could be making your loved one upset:
- Pain
- Constipation
- Excessive caffeine
- Lack of sleep
- Soiled hygiene pad
EditGetting More Help - Don't feel guilty about living your life. No matter how many family members are "pitching in," caring for someone with Alzheimer's is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Some forty percent of people providing a loved one with AD care experience signs of depression at some point. Everyone needs a break sometimes, and everyone needs help sometimes.[13]
 - Keep in regular contact with other caregiving family members, and let them know when it is all getting to be too much for you. See if someone else in the group can cover for you for a short period of time.
- Also, don't feel as though every free second you have beyond your own work, family, and other responsibilities must be dedicated to caregiving. You have to have some time for yourself and your life, or your caregiving for your loved one will suffer.[14]
- Learn how to manage stress. Take five deep breaths. Learn to do yoga or meditate.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure that you are on top of getting your regular checkups and are exercising, eating, and sleeping well.
- Recognize signs of stress as a caregiver. These signs include denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety about the future, depression, exhaustion, sleeplessness, irritability, lack of concentration, and health problems. Burnout can damage the health of both yourself and your loved one with AD, so be sure to recognize these signs. If you are feeling burnout, communicate that feeling to your other family members so that they can give you a break for a day.
- Don't wait to be asked to help a fellow caregiver who is struggling. When you need some help or time away, ask for it; when you sense that another caregiver needs the same, offer your help. Working as a team means anticipating needs and offering whatever contributions you can to support the larger goal.[15]
- As members of the same family and caregivers for the same loved one, set aside petty differences whenever possible and approach each other with compassion and understanding. Do what you can to help each other, which is certainly what your loved one with AD would have wanted of you.
- Seek outside assistance with caregiving. No matter how good your intentions, how great your energy levels, and how determined you are to see things through as a family, the time may well come when caring for an Alzheimer's patient is simply too much for your family group. There is absolutely no shame in this. Always focus on what is best for your loved one with AD, even if that means turning over some amount of care to trained professionals. Outside assistance options for AD patients include but are not limited to:[16]
- Respite care providers, who will provide full-time care for your loved one for a predetermined (short) period of time, so that you and other family members can get some rest and energy.
- Meal service providers, who bring prepared food to your loved one's home on a regular schedule.
- Adult day care programs, which supervise activities for AD patients according to an established schedule.
- Home healthcare providers, who can provide services ranging from occasional home visits to 24/7 in-home care.
- Geriatric care managers, who make regular home visits and offer care suggestions and assistance in coordinating needed services.
- Bring your family member with AD to the doctor regularly. Bring your loved one to the doctor every 2-4 weeks, especially in the early stages of treatment. In these sessions, the doctor may still be adjusting medication and answering your questions. After those initial stages, bring your loved one to the doctor ever 3-6 months. The doctor will be assessing your family member with AD in different areas: activities of daily living, cognition, comorbid medical and mood disorders, and caregiver status.
- The doctor will also be assessing your family, helping you cope, and directing you to resources. They will do their best to help you cope with and manage your stress about your family member with AD.
- Find a caregivers' support group. You can find comfort, support, and assistance within your family group of caregivers, but sometimes it may be easier to seek out these things from strangers going through the same type of thing as you. With the growing number of cases of AD, there is also a growing number of available AD caregiver support groups.[17]
- Don't wait to be asked to help. Try to help your family members whenever you can. Sometimes, even simple things, like helping with chores or taking a walk with your loved one, can make the burden of other caretakers feel much lighter. You want to give other caregivers time to recharge, too.
- Talk to your loved one's care team for advice on local caregiver support groups. You can also search for groups online and/or join online support groups. Start your search on recognized sites dedicated to Alzheimer's care, such as http://www.alz.org/.
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