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Elder Care Oswego, IL: Mental Health Month May 2011

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Source: mentalhealthamerica.net

Mental Health America is proud to continue its tradition of celebrating “May is Mental Health Month,” which began in 1949 to raise awareness of mental health conditions and mental wellness for all.

This year, we are addressing these important issues through two themes:

Do More for 1 in 4 is a call to action to help the 1 in 4 American adults who live with a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition and the fact that they can go on to live full and productive lives.

The second theme, Live Well! It’s Essential for Your Potential, focuses on the importance of mental wellness and the steps everyone can take to improve their well-being and resiliency in the face of difficult times and challenges.

Mental Health America’s Live Your Life Well program offers ten science-based tools to manage stress and help you relax, grow and flourish.

read more: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Naperville.

Home Care Naperville, IL: What You Need if You Care for Someone With Alzheimer’s

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6 obvious — but often overlooked — helpers when you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia
By Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editor

Taking care of yourself while you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease

Most people simply dive in to the responsibility of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and then take it one day at a time. Fair enough. But before you find yourself combating both his disease and your own emotional strain and battle fatigue, be sure you have these stress-busters on your side.

Good self-care

Don’t even think of skimming by this one. You really do need to come first on the priority list, not last. It’s almost too easy to neglect your own needs when you’re juggling caregiving, a job, a marriage, and children.

But just as with tending to a child, caring for a sick person can be depleting. If you fail to keep an eye on your own mental and physical health, you’re vulnerable to everything from colds and other illnesses right up to burnout.

No one can keep up with the round-the-clock demands of Alzheimer’s care — even in the early stages — without periodic relief. Indeed, caregiver burnout is a primary reason Alzheimer’s patients enter nursing homes.

Make time for yourself every single day, even if it’s just a 20-minute walk while a neighbor pays a visit. Don’t abandon all your former interests and hobbies to support someone with Alzheimer’s.

You don’t have to eat the same food as him (especially if he’s down to simple, easy-to-manage foods), but neither do you have to subsist on drive-through fare. Stock up on nutritious, easy-to-grab snacks if time is an issue.

continue reading:

http://www.caring.com/articles/alzheimers-caregiving-and-parents?utm_medium=email&utm_source=suggests&utm_campaign=alz&utm_content=20110405

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Naperville.

Caregivers in Naperville, IL: How to Provide Alzheimer’s Support From a Distance

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10 ideas on caring for someone with dementia — when you’re not the primary caregiver
By Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editor

Long-distance help for someone with Alzheimer’s

Whether you live across the country or across town, if you’re not the one primarily responsible for the care of someone with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia, it’s easy to feel helpless or be unsure how to help. Here are some productive ideas.

Lend a supportive ear

It’s simple but critical: offer emotional support to the person’s primary caregiver. Caregiver stress is a constant threat. Acknowledge to him that it’s a very real problem and address the issue before it morphs into burnout. Especially when the caregiver is the patient’s spouse or another family member, check in regularly to see how he’s feeling and to ask how you can help.

Checking in if it’s a professional caregiver can likewise boost morale and help avoid a disruptive staff turnover. Listen attentively to the primary caregiver’s concerns. Look for areas where you can provide practical help (such as locating a support group or relief care for him), and try not to be overly critical when evaluating the care he’s providing.

Remember to thank him.

Source: caring.com…..continue reading

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Naperville.