3 Areas Dementia Caregivers Should Know About

Dementia caregiving is HARD! But there are 3 important areas that can help reduce dementia caregiving stress when understood and applied correctly. Not only do these 3 areas help reduce caregiver stress and help dementia caregivers feel better, these areas ultimately help reduce difficult dementia behaviors such as sundowning, refusing to bathe, and wandering away from home. Most people don’t know abou these 3 areas. Most people who do know about these 3 areas won’t actually apply them. :( I hope you’ll choose a different path and I hope this helps.

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In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare

[cmiller]

Amen, sister! No amount of help works! It’s always met with Anger, Hateful words, and Refusal of any help! I used to love this man, now I find ways to not be with him in our own home! I hate this!

[orthodudeness]

A lot to say here. Mindset, prep, actions, I have those things in order. Why? TV Guide, and all Dr. Natali's videos there. Of course, I still cry, of course I'm still depressed. However, the ideas offered here will be life changing. Those ideas have changed my life. Acceptance of my wife's dementia, then helping her as she would help me. There is peace in that.

[yobreezieseas]

My daughter dropped this gem on me… she said “ mom, grandma isn’t giving you a hard time, she’s HAVING a hard time” that changed my mindset!!

[kassimatthews]

Yes yes yes!
I wish there were therapists we could talk with who are trained in dementia and caregivers like you.

[hoboannie]

Yes! My encouraging voice always devolves into pleading, then begging, then giving up.

[fishingrod]

You are such a blessing to caregivers and people in general!! I try to do the best I can. I make mistakes, but I move on from there and try something different. I wish I had a dog like Niko, belly rub from me.

[amvazzy]

For someone with mild to moderate dementia, we are probably “helping” too much. We do it out of love, or to save time, or we are on autopilot etc. it doesn’t feel good to have that autonomy taken away. We stop talking to them like an equal, or stop talking at all. It’s a very easy habit to fall into even with the best of intentions. LOWD still have very real feelings and it wouldn’t be normal if they didn’t get upset, sad, irritable just like we all do. Apologies go a long way, and it is a respectful thing to do. Even though this caregiver journey is one of the hardest things to experience, we have to put our egos aside. We may never get a thank you, but we really aren’t in it for that. If we are, we may be sorely disappointed. For everyone out there who is exhausted, angry, lonely, feeling guilty, bored, desperate, unhappy, scared, and ready to walk out the door and never look back, I hope you can hold on a little longer. You are not the only one who feels this way. It will not always be like this and you will not always feel this way. Your best is enough.

[dianapeters]

We're starting a caregiver ministry in my church: I hope to help the other (mostly spouses) caregivers understand that they're faced with a unique opportunity to care more for another person than themselves, which we all should do--and how to be preparing themselves mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

[stevenblack]

Had a tough time lately so in Australia we have carers gateway gave them a call and they sent a lady from dementia Australia over sat down and went through everything that was going on we made changes in the time her meds were taken and 2 Tylonol morning noon and night wow 😮 what a difference turned out she was in pain but can’t express what was wrong so angry and frustrated and agitated now she has a smile again and I even get a hug now huge difference 😆

[lindacrawford]

I am an awful caregiver. I never had a good relationship with my LO mom. She created dissension in the family. I see that same trait in her today. She is really negative. I react negatively to her and I am very heated in my retort. Then I feel badly for her. Yes, yes, Yes!

[rachelt]

Great video! And so true! I can make an effort to control my thoughts and find something positive to think about. The ruminating about the negative is not good for my brain. I know this and still do it.

[laurelglasgow]

I need lots of help with stress. When my Loved one gets angry, says mean untrue things I get irritated. Add too many irritations in one day and I start feeling like I would like to have in a care facility and just not deal with him. I can't afford it, so my reality is he is going to wear me and my health down to where I am sick and he will outlive me and be a problem for our kids.

[bushidooffaith]

Dr Natali great advice as always, but today even better!
Mindset, Action, Preparation.
Mindset, the more you sow the stronger you grow.
Action, the training you do is what get you through.
Preparation, have everything done and ready, before you get there and the battle is half won!
"Equanimity" is what a true champion helper (carer) must muster.
Believe in God first to get you through.
Believe, then you will achieve, and it's only a matter of time before you Succeed!
God love all you helpers (carers) out their. and especial to you Dr Natali and your wonderful team!

[marksutton]

YES, I have learned to let my LO try to do the task on her own first. It usually winds up she asks for help.
Much easier!

[cherylcampbell]

What’s scary is I have a lady for an hour three days a week which is fine. But her husband is 94 and memory problems too. Thank goodness they are in a independent living place but they could use a lot more help. You can tell he’s really stressed out. No children in same state to help out emotionally. So very sad.

[hazelatwood]

Infinite appreciation of you, Dr. Natali! ❤❤❤❤❤

[martl]

You are amazing and I would not be able to live without your encouragement.bless you

[kevingrimbeek]

In no particular order, this is my MAP of how I have coped;-
- Sought help from my own Psychiatrist.
- I am taking care of the mother of my children.
- my preoccupation is taking care of our townhouse complex, pro bono.
- I still have a big cruiser motorcycle I enjoy.
Finally, here's a BIG THANK YOU to Dr Natalie who is a wealth of information or if not, then via her Carblazers Group.

[chimmetamang]

Thank you so much ma’am for sharing your thoughtful ideas it means a lot in this difficult time of our lives 🙏

[louisewarren]

Yes!!I step back when this happens!And yes you have to think of another way !!