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Coping with a Spouse with Dementia
| Posted on December 18, 2019 at 11:46 PM |
As 2019 draws to a close I have reflected on the past year and have been mostly involved with aged care and caring for those with dementia. I would like to share with you the following article which describes some good tips of 'How to Cope when your Spouse has Dementia" A part of marriage is caring for your spouse when they are sick or worried. Although a spouse with dementia can not visibly appear sick, this person is suffering from memory loss and confusion. Watching your spouse’s mental abilities deteriorate can be difficult. You can feel uncertain about how to help your spouse with dementia and how to adjust to this major life change. By redefining your marriage and accepting your new roles, asking for support, and taking care of yourself, you can handle this new season of your life. Accept that your marriage will change. Know that your marriage will not be an equal partnership anymore. Eventually, you will have to take on all of the responsibilities of managing your household, caring for your family, and even helping your spouse with the smallest of tasks. Your role as spouse will gradually transform into the caregiver, or even “parent” in the relationship.
Educate yourself as much as possible about the particular form of dementia that your spouse has. Knowing what to expect going forward goes a long way in preparing you for the different stages as they occur. Understand your spouse’s behaviour isn’t intentional. People with dementia often take on new personalities and may lash out at their spouses and caregivers. Not taking these behaviours personally is difficult, but necessary. Understanding the cause of the aggressive behaviour may help you to not become offended by your spouse, and help them in the process.
Know that feeling resentful of your spouse is common. When you said your vows, you probably didn’t plan on marrying someone you would have to take care of completely. You likely envisioned a relationship in which you both put in equal amounts of work and when this doesn’t happen, resentment is often common. Understand that intimacy may change. Because of the cognitive decline of your spouse, you may not be able to experience the emotional and physical intimacy you once did. Along with physical impairments, your spouse may become depressed, which can also affect their sex drive. Additionally, you may not feel attracted to your partner anymore because of these changes. Don’t feel guilty about this loss of attraction; you can find other ways to connect.
Focus on the positives. Although lots of things have changed since your spouse developed dementia, if you think about it, much is also the same. Perhaps your spouse always had a sideways grin when they were caught doing something naughty like drinking from the milk carton. Or, maybe your spouse still dances wildly to their favourite music like they did when they were younger. Take note of these small ways in which you still have your spouse rather than focusing on all that you’ve lost.
Ask friends and family for help. Taking on the role of caregiver is an overwhelming and stressful concept for many spouses. However, understand that it is OK to ask for help. You don’t always have to do everything on your own, and asking help from your children, friends, siblings, and in-laws isn’t a sign of weakness.
Join a support group. No one understands what you are going through better than those who are experiencing it for themselves. Joining a support group allows you to talk freely about all of the emotions you are feeling and receive feedback and encouragement from those who are in the same place as you.
Hire a professional caregiver. Know that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help from a professional. Along with caring for yourself, you now have to take care of someone who is likely difficult, emotional, and physically and cognitively impaired.
Seek professional help, if needed. Caregivers are often under constant stress and pressure, and it is common for them to experience depression and anxiety because of it. Experiencing grief over your changed spouse may also cause you to feel down. Talk to a doctor about seeking therapy or taking prescription medication to help treat your issue. Doing so will enable you to be in better mental health to take care of your spouse. Participate in hobbies. Caregivers commonly lose touch with activities they enjoy, as they often feel they don’t have time for anything else except looking after their spouses. In addition to adding to the level of resentment you may feel, depriving yourself of activities you enjoy can also negatively affect the way you take care of your spouse. Make time to engage in your hobbies, even if it means asking someone to relieve you for a few hours a week so that you are able to participate.
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Categories: Aged care - Dementia
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Pikdo
6:10 AM on December 27, 2019
Thanks for the blog loaded with so many information. Stopping by your blog helped me to get what I was looking for. Explore photo and video images on Instagram, latest posts and popular posts about Pikdo.
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