Page 37 - Scene Magazine November 2022
P. 37

Local Interest
BY SHERII SHERBAN
    Researchers have found that a person who provides care for someone with dementia is twice as likely to suffer from depression as a person providing care for someone without dementia. The more severe the case of dementia, such as that caused by Alzheimer’s disease, the more likely the caregiver is to experience depression. It is critical for caregivers, especially in these situations, to receive consistent and dependable support.
family member for a few nights are ways to keep your caregiving commitment while getting the sleep you need.
much-needed rest, loneliness, guilt, and monitoring the care a loved one receives in this new location can add new stress.
Dementia and Depression
Transition to a care facility can
be beneficial for caregiver and care receiver. However, depression can still persist after placement. While many caregivers are finally able to catch up on
Joining a support group can be helpful for the caregiver as they interact with others experiencing the same challenges. Seeking out professional asisstance can also be the next best step.
 Caring for a person with dementia can be all consuming. It is different
from other types of caregiving. Not
only do caregivers spend significantly more hours per week providing care, they report more employment problems, personal stress, mental and physical health problems, less time to do the things they enjoy, less time to spend with other family members, and more family conflict than nondementia caregivers.
As stressful as the deterioration of a loved one’s mental and physical abilities may be for the caregiver, dealing
with dementia-related behavior is an even bigger contributor to developing symptoms of depression.
Women experience depression at a higher rate than men. Women, primarily wives and daughters, provide the majority of caregiving. In the United States, women experience clinical depression at approximately twice the rate of men. Many women do not seek treatment for depression because they are embarrassed or in denial about being depressed. Men will more often “self treat” their depressive symptoms of anger, irritability, or powerlessness with alcohol or overwork. Although male caregivers tend to be more willing than female caregivers to hire outside help for assistance with home care duties, they tend to have fewer friends to confide
in or positive activities outside the home. The assumption that depressive symptoms are a sign of weakness can make it especially difficult for men to seek help as well.
Lack of sleep contributes to depression. Even though you may not be able to get your loved one to rest throughout the night, you can arrange to get much-needed sleep. Hiring a respite worker to be with your loved one while you take a nap, finding a care center,
or scheduling a stay over with another
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