Opinion: Help and hope for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s
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New Yorkers participated in the 2019 Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s in September. Photo courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association.
By Roy Capps
Special to the Eagle
November is both National Family Caregivers Month and Alzheimer’s Awareness Month — an opportunity to recognize the immense contributions of those who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In New York, there are currently an estimated one million caregivers who provide over a billion hours of unpaid care each year.
But the time that they dedicate to their caregiving responsibilities is only the beginning. Caregivers are often under emotional, physical, and financial strains due to the demands of caregiving. Caregivers can become isolated, experience higher levels of stress, and become ill themselves.
If you are a caregiver who is struggling, you are not alone! Below are a few tips that can help you in your role as caregiver:
Take care of yourself
Ask for assistance from family members, neighbors, and professionals. Look into respite services that can offer you a break. Too often caregivers forget to take care of themselves. Spend time with friends, maintain exercise and healthy eating habits, and see your own doctor on a regular basis.
Connect to support groups
Sharing your experiences and listening to other caregivers through peer support groups can help you manage stress. If you feel isolated, it can be beneficial to connect with others who understand what you are going through.
Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease
Knowing what to expect can help you prepare for the challenges of caregiving. Learning about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, caregiving techniques, and long-term care planning for your loved one can help you become a more effective caregiver and reduce anxiety about the future.
If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, there is hope. Like many caregivers, Carma Augustin felt overwhelmed. She cares for her mother and works nights, juggling her mom’s needs with her own. But she reached out for help, engaging with peer support groups, respite services, and caregiver education. “I recognized that in order to take care of my mom, I had to take care of myself,” Carma says. Now she feels less stressed and isolated, and can be more present with her mom.
With the right supports in place, like Carma, you can create a better quality of life for both you and your loved one. Thanks to the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department for the Aging, free support services are available to caregivers in all five boroughs. Services include respite care, education and training, peer groups, assistance with Medicaid benefits, long-term care planning, and much more. To find services near you, call 877-577-9337.
Roy Capps MPS is the Caregiver Educator for Sunnyside Community Services' Care NYC program.
