My City January 2023

The smallest and easiest thing to do is to just reach

out via phone or a visit from time

to time. That’s often all it takes to help a

caregiver feel renewed and appreciated.

C aring for a loved one who is strug gling with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can be rewarding but also an exhausting, stressful and thankless task. It takes large amounts of time and effort and many caregivers can become quickly overwhelmed if they have no one to turn to for help.They feel alone on the journey and oftentimes are, as family and friends tend to shy away from the situation; not because they do not want to help but because they don’t know how.The smallest and easiest thing to do is to just reach out via phone or a visit from time to time.That’s often all it takes to help a caregiver feel renewed and appreciated. Here is a short list of simple things friends and family can do to ease the burden of those caring for a loved one with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease. ▸ Be there. Make it a point to keep in touch, to call or visit. Remember, the caregiver will be putting the majority of their focus and effort into helping their

loved one; this means you will have to make the effort for contact. ▸ Educate yourself. Learn about the disease they are dealing with and you will be better able to understand what the helper is going through. With more education, you will become more pa tient when interacting with the afflicted person and may be able to ease the burden by giving the helper a “break.” ▸ Listen. When spending time with the helper, one of the best things to do

is to simply listen. Be compassionate and be patient.The helper may have some pent-up frustration and angst to release. Allow them to vent and then, be reassuring. Never offer unsolicited advice and never make it about yourself. ▸ Help with everyday chores. Care givers often have little time to do the daily things that are needed to keep a household or family running. Help ing them with tasks such as grocery shopping, laundry, yard work or cooking

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