LLT #204 :Are You A Family Caregiver? Oh The Rollercoaster Of Emotions😠😢🤯😰😩! Is This Normal? Are YOU?
#familycaregivers #emotionalhealth #emotionalrollercoasters #anxietyanddepression #anticpatorygrief #grief #familydynamics #dementiacare #dementiasupport #shame #brenebrown
Family Caregiving is NOT for the faint hearted and despite our best intentions, the daily grind, the fatigue, the unexpected, the loneliness, can lead to a cascade of emotions that can be difficult to understand, much less process, and leave you feeling as if "there is no way out"
The questions:
Is it ok to have these emotions? --YES!
Am I "losing it"? - NO!
What IS happening to me? - Let's talk!
So much research and even in general conversation, here are some of the most common (and normal) emotions you may have as Family Caregiver (and what you can do about it):
😠😢🤯😰😩
GUILT and SHAME; ANGER/FRUSTRATION; ANXIETY; GRIEF ; SADNESS/DEPRESSION.
Is there no way out? NO!!!
It starts with : talking - PRAY and pray again; talk to a trusted friend; make time for you; and sometimes , you just have to "BREATHE".
You got this!
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
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Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com
For more insights and connect for a FREE face-to-Face 15 minute Zoom call, and a place where we can connect as physicians on my website:
lanaslittlethings.com
If you're a Family Caregiver at your wit's end, needing a different perspective, set up your free 15-minute coaching call-also by email -lana@lanaannemd.com - or on www.lanaslittlethings.com
I always look forward to meeting Fellow Family Caregivers- we gotta stick together!💯
LLT #203 - What Is DELIRIUM? How Is is Different from Dementia ? 👴🏽👵🏽😕😕
#delirium #moodchange r #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #healthyaging #brainhealth #seniorcare #familycaregivers #mindfulness
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👴🏽👵🏽😕😕What is DELIRIUM?
👴🏽👵🏽😕😕How is it different from DEMENTIA?
👴🏽👵🏽😕😕How can you tell?
👴🏽👵🏽😕😕What can be done?
While the journey through caring for loved ones with Dementia, it can be absolutely distressing to see a person previously 'OK", behaving in a bizarre way.
Take courage! It may "just be DELIRIUM" .
According to many medical sources, Delirium is a fast-developing type of confusion that affects your ability to focus the person's attention (notably) and awareness
Why?- When there is a disruption in brain activity, for any reason, there is a definite change.
Delirium is more common during long (or short) hospital stays or persons transitioned to long-term care facilities., but even at home or in daily living, a "simple fall", may cause damage to brain cells and even bleeding on the brain (from a smaller brain size and more tendency to injury.)
The most common concern relatives /carers say is:
“That’s NOT the person I know.”
While it is good to know that most causes of Delirium are transient and reversible, the reality is some may be a precursor to (especially , underlying Dementia).
Jojn me in a discussion on 5 main changes that can help you to identify/distinguish between these 2 "cousins".
Observe, Seek help, Ask questions!
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
Main research:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15252-delirium
.........................................................
Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com
For more insights and connect for a FREE face-to-Face 15 minute Zoom call, and a place where we can connect as physicians on my website:
lanaslittlethings.com
If you're a Family Caregiver at your wit's end, needing a different perspective, set up your free 15-minute coaching call-also by email -lana@lanaannemd.com - or on www.lanaslittlethings.com
I always look forward to meeting Fellow Family Caregivers- we gotta stick together!💯
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Lanaslittlethings#202 - The 7 Stages of Alzheimer's Disease - What to Expect? 👴🏽👵🏽💓
#alzheimer #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #healthyaging #brainhealth #seniorcare #familycaregivers #thelonggoodbye #ronaldreagan
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Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological brain disorder that causes impairment with memory, thinking skills, and behaviour.
The reality, which is so very distressing, is its progression, its unpredictability and , personally, a sense of loss.
It sure does feel, as the late FLOTUS Nancy Reagan wrote: 'THE LONG GOODBYE"😞
What may help is knowing that there is some reference point that may open dialogue and provide some clarity to families.
Developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg, and also called :
"The Global Deterioration".
Here we go:
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 1- Normal; no impairment
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 2 - Subjective Memory Loss- mainly "where are my keys?", and considered age-related forgetfulness
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 3 - Mild Cognitive Impairment - repeating oneself
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 4 - Moderate Cognitive Decline- considered mild dementia and the "start " of defining Alzheimer’s Disease - more assistance; less recall
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 5 - Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline - more dependence
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 6- a to e - Severe Cognitive Decline ; also known as Moderately Severe Dementia
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 7 - a to f - Very Severe Cognitive Decline; also referred to as Severe Dementia - complete dependence ; either non verbal or just one word at a time. Limbs are stiff and feel almost immobile.
Daunting? Yes!
And yet, it does provide a place to begin dialogue with your healthcare team.
There are no words; and yet, communication , LOVE, respect and sometimes, just a few minutes to be alone (as Caregiver) help our mental health.
Let us embrace these fundamentals; see each other in an atmosphere of acceptance, understanding, empathy and love .
Research(main) :
https://www.alzinfo.org/understand-alzheimers/clinical-stages-of-alzheimers/
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana.........................................................
Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com
For more insights and connect for a FREE face-to-Face 15 minute Zoom call, and a place where we can connect as physicians on my website:
lanaslittlethings.com
If you're a Family Caregiver at your wit's end, needing a different perspective, set up your free 15-minute coaching call-also by email -lana@lanaannemd.com - or on www.lanaslittlethings.com
I always look forward to meeting Fellow Family Caregivers- we gotta stick together!💯
