Tag Archives: anxiety

Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorneys, Senior Care, Uncategorized, Wills

Using Doll Therapy to Treat Alzheimer’s

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There are currently several different types of therapies being used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia. One new type of therapy that is gaining in popularity is doll therapy, where a senior with advanced Alzheimer’s or dementia is given a lifelike baby doll to care for. Supporters of this type of therapy say that caring for the dolls helps to engage seniors who are normally withdrawn and unable to participate in most other activities due to their advanced dementia. Many family members say that watching their loved ones play with the dolls gives them a deep feeling of comfort. Continue reading →

Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Senior Care, Uncategorized, Wills

Signs You Could Be Suffering From Caregiver Burnout

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Being a caregiver is a very important job that requires a lot of skill, effort, and time from you, the caregiver. Sometimes, spending that much energy on someone else’s needs can cause you to neglect your own needs. The symptoms of caregiver burnout vary and are very similar to symptoms of depression, including feelings of stress, sadness, and guilt. Know the symptoms of caregiver burnout so you can watch out for them. Know the causes so you can try to prevent it. If ignored, caregiver burnout can become clinical anxiety or depression. You should always seek help from a medical professional if you have reached that point. Some of the more common symptoms of caregiver burnout are: Continue reading →

Senior Care

Identifying and Avoiding Caregiver Burnout

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By: Henry C. Weatherby, Esq., CLU, ChFC, CEBS

Many of our clients are caring for or being cared for by a loved one. More than 65 million Americans care for family members who need assistance due to chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. These millions of family caregivers may include spouses, parents, or children of the person receiving care. Even when family members are not providing direct care themselves, they are often still the ones who arrange for and manage the care their loved ones need. These people are still part of the caregiving team and share in the emotional and financial stresses that can result from being a caregiver. Caregivers are often so focused on the needs of the person for whom they are caring that they forget to care for themselves. This puts them at risk for caregiver burnout.

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Senior Care

Tips to Manage Caregiver Stress

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A colleague in Chicago, Robert Stelletello, Owner of Right at Home Oak Park / Chicago, has shared these thoughts in an ElderCare Matters piece recently:

It starts with your Father needing help monitoring his daily medications.

Not too much later he needs regular at-home care.

If you are a primary family caregiver, you understand the tough sacrifices and joys of helping your elderly loved one with daily routines such as bathing, dressing and eating, or making medical and financial decisions. Yet, without realizing it, your efforts to comfort and support your loved one may be eroding your own health by contributing to elevated risk of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and anxiety. Stress from caring for an aging loved one can also increase the likelihood of headaches, disrupt your sleep, and cause depression.

To help, try the following caregiver stress relievers:

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