Page 118 - Time Magazine-November 05, 2018

TheView

FRONTIERS OF MEDICINE
The silent struggles 6 ways to manage caregiver stress
of Alzheimer’s care

By Jamie Ducharme
When nancy Daly Was helping To care for her
late mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease, the stress
was so great that she would often shut herself in a bath- Talk about it Address stress Prioritize your health
room and cry into a towel. For more than two years, Don’t try to shoulder Finding positive ways Eating well, exercising
the burden alone.
and sleeping enough
to cope with stress,
Daly regularly flew from her home in California to her Seek emotional like meditation, help provide the
mother’s in Maryland, eventually to no recognition. “It support from friends yoga and breathing energy required for
was as if my entire childhood was erased, when she did and family, caregiver exercises, can help caregiving. And even
not know me,” says Daly, 59. “But I had to grit my teeth hotlines or mental- people manage light physical activity
the physical and
and bear it. It was my job to be there.” health professionals. emotional difficulties has been shown to
Support groups are
reduce stress and
Daly’s situation is likely familiar to many of the also available. of caregiving. lift mood.
16 million Americans who serve as unpaid caregivers
to someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Be-
cause the tasks involved are so intimate and expensive
to outsource, caregiving often falls to loved ones rather
than professionals. And the number of caregivers is
projected to grow: a recent study estimated that Alz-
heimer’s diagnoses will more than double over the next
Seek training
Use local
Stay mindful
four decades as the U.S. population ages. A recent study found Professionals can resources
Research shows that Alzheimer’s caregivers face sig- that mindfulness teach strategies Beyond support
nificant physical, financial and mental burdens. In an training—the for dealing with groups, many
October survey by the Associated Press–NORC Center practice of staying in progressive communities
for Public Affairs Research, about a third of caregivers the moment—helped Alzheimer’s offer programs
symptoms
said they struggled to manage their own health and had dementia caregivers and suggest like meal delivery,
understand and
transportation
skipped going to the doctor—even when they were sick accept their own environmental assistance and
or injured—because of their duties. That’s especially emotions and those adjustments that medical advice for
concerning since dementia caregivers are themselves of their loved one. make care easier. caregivers.
an aging group: 34% are now 65 or older.
Other research suggests that dementia caregivers
have higher levels of stress and depression than other recognizing these stresses as a unique area of
types of caregivers. That’s likely because of the pro- concern—and some potential solutions are emerging.
gressive nature of Alzheimer’s, which eventually re- A September study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia found
quires virtually around-the-clock care, says Elena that mindfulness and emotional-awareness training
Fazio, a health scientist administrator at the National eases caregiver stress. The National Institutes of Health
Institute on Aging. “There’s not an opportunity for re- is also studying how skills and stress-management
spite,” she says. “[People with Alzheimer’s] have a host training, along with social support, reduces depression
of behavioral symptoms”—like wandering and mood and improves caregivers’ mental health.
swings—“that make it more complicated.” Worrying Just talking about the difficulties of their situation
for a loved one’s mental and physical safety, plus the can be “life-giving and lifesaving,” says Ruth Drew, a
isolating nature of the disease, increases the risk for counselor who oversees the Alzheimer’s Association’s
stress, depression and anxiety, Fazio says. caregiver hotline. People often feel guilty complain-
Being a caregiver is also expensive and can inter- ing to family and friends, but the hotline is staffed by
fere with one’s career. Massachusetts this year joined a people with firsthand knowledge of Alzheimer’s care.
small but growing group of states to pass paid-family- “There’s nothing like talking to somebody else who’s
leave laws, but there is currently no such law at the fed- been where you are,” Drew says. Doing so may soon get
eral level. About 60% of Alzheimer’s caregivers said easier: researchers are exploring the impact of online
they faced financial problems because of their role, ac- support groups and live video conferencing between
cording to a June survey from the nonprofit advocacy caregivers and Alzheimer’s experts. ILLUSTRATIONS BY JACKIE FERRENTINO FOR TIME
group Us Against Alzheimer’s. “Technology is not the answer to everything, but
we’re having to think more creatively,” Fazio says. “The
for daly, these burdens took a toll over time. reality is that the demographic shifts and the growing
“With every visit, you watch everything decline,” she number of people with dementia are going to mean
says. Researchers and organizations are increasingly that many more people are impacted by caregiving.” 
24 Time November 5, 2018