How to change your life as a dementia caregiver: A simple way to change your future
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มี.ค. 2019
- Welcome to the place where I share dementia tips, strategies, and information for family members caring for a loved one with any type of dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, etc.)
In today’s video, I want to share a simple idea that can have a HUGE impact on your life. If you are looking to make a positive change in your life while caring for your loved one with dementia, then this video is for you. I share how you can take daily, consistent action without needing a bunch of time or money to reach your goals. I’m super excited to see what you do with this.
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📺 Get Access to A FREE Dementia Caregiver Training on How to Care For a Loved One With Dementia- WITHOUT The Overwhelm, Dread, and Confusion: ➡︎ www.dementiacareclass.com/yt
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Connect with other Careblazers for information and support inside my Facebook group: / dementiacareblazers
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In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare
Thank you Dr Natali for caring for me. I don’t know where I’d be without you. Sometimes I feel like you’re the only one who understands and cares. No one in my family wants to hear about what is happening to my mom, their mom or grandma. I’m the only one living with her and taking care of her who has seen the steady and ever quickening speed of her decline. They either don’t want to know or say she seems fine. But they’re not with her to see the subtle and mounting changes. And they don’t want or understand the toll it takes on my mind and my time. Thank you for being such a great and understanding and caring support. 🌺🌼🌸
@Mary Cacia Masser you just summed up (perfectly) how I've been feeling.
I totally agree with you, Mary! I’m in the same boat as I’m the caregiver for my husband. No one believes me, not his doctors or his two grown boys. I’m really on my own. I have to get him the care he needs....that shows true love. I have been pretending that it will take care of itself somehow, or he would get better. It’s very hard to give up on the “dream” of the marriage, the couple...all of that “show”....the holidays make it tough, the Christmas cards with perfect looking families...the ads on tv....and possibly the pressure from our friends and families (subtly.). I feel so safe and understood in this Careblazing community, Dr. Natali....you are so wonderful and helpful! I am truly grateful and finally don’t feel alone anymore and I now know I need to live my life and my truth. Thank you! Mia 😀🥰🙏🌺
Thank you so much, glad it helped a lot to you. Sending you hugs and strength!
I had to move to a different state to take care of my brother. I have no friends here, just one additional brother who wants nothing to do with his older brother and that's it. I talk to everyone that I encounter, at the store, the bank, just doing daily things like the post officer or Goodwill, but it's not enough. I email my two daughters but they are clear across the US so they can't even visit me. Hoping that after watching this I may find some additional ways to give back to myself some semblance of the kind of life I had before becoming my brother's caregiver. I know it's not about me, but if something happens to me then my brother will end up in a state-directed nursing home, which I do not want. Anyone else who has a tough time finding friends or other activities to keep them sane?
You cannot know how much your videos have helped me. My husband has dementia and ad i am his only care giver i was starting to really resent him, the circumstances, after finding you i have really tried to accept the whole journey and make the best of our luves. Thank you so much for showing me that I am not a horrible person sometimes!
Hi Cindy We are so glad you are here as part of this community. Wishing you all the best on your caregiving journey. 💖
Even just finding a little time just to do something calming, like reading a chapter of a book, or sitting on the porch for 1/2 hour while the person you are caring for naps, really helps ease the tension. I have to watch my mom constantly, as she gets confused and does things that aren’t safe. Though she has trouble finding words and confuses objects, she can still play the piano. I sit her down and ask her to play for a bit, so that I can take a break from the necessary vigilance. Sometimes I ride her stationary bike, or do stretching exercises. I’m going to get a yoga video to see if she can do it with me.
Thank you so much! I believe God sent you my way on the day before my birthday. I could not be more depressed. I took my mom to a beautiful assisted living facility yesterday which was as beautiful as being on a cruise ship. Needless to say, it did not go well. So here I am searching for answers. Thank-you. Your videos have been helpful already and I am just starting to view them all.
Your videos have been very supportive for me in my time of caregiving. You deserve some sort of peace prize. Im mean, look at you, just sitting quietly, making these videos and helping people that may be drowning in sadness and stress. Look at you go! I admire your work. Thank you. David (First post to any video ever.)
Thank you for your kind words, David. I feel that all of you Careblazers deserve a prize for caring for your loved ones even though it is incredibly stressful and challenging at times. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for caring about us Dr Natali. This helps me so much. I can start by taking baby steps of getting outside more now that springtime is here. I need to be less sedentary. I have two bad knees so being a caretaker is doubly hard anyway. When I have free time I just want to sit down and rest or knit. I also paint but I do that at night when interruptions from my mom are rare. It getting outside will help refresh and invigorate me. Thank you for carrying about us.
I skipped lunch date with my husband for about a month. We both were depressed staying home to care for my parents 24/7. We decided we can’t continue like that. Now I look forward to the weekly lunch date to get away for a couple of hours and enjoy each other’s company.
Hello Betty
How are you doing today?
My husband has dementia and he is so disagreeable about everything to say the least. I'm going to try to skip a snack in the evening. Thank you so much for your help.
Hello Judy
How are you doing today?
Thank you for all you share about Dementia. It truly makes a difference in how I take care of my husband and how I take care of my self. I think you are amazing and I thank God I found your videos. ❤️
Yes. I have a mountain of more I want to say, but can’t… just, yes, thank you and I get it. I needed this.
I really appreciate your videos and tips!
I going to find time to go on date with my husband every 2 weeks . I am taking care my mom at her house every other week for 7 Days 24 hours a day. I also will try to exercise in the house while I am there. Thank You ❤️❤️❤️
Yes, great ideas! You can do this! Consistency is key...small steps lead to big success.
Thank you so much - your sincere caring comes through.
You are so welcome. Keep up the good work!
Dear Dr. Natalie.....words can't express My Gratitude for all your beautiful videos & advice. I've been following your program for about one year now & have shared it with others in similar circumstances. I have a wonderful aide to assist my elderly Mom. I used to think that I had to do it all, but now I've relaxed & let the aide take the lead & do more with Mom. It doesn't have to be "Me" doing it "All." As long as Mom is cared for & her needs are being met (which they are) it's all good. I have shifted my thinking because of your advice & some other materials. The one thing that I've set my mind set to do is - visit Mom only once a week. It's been hard, but care is in place the other days. She only needs me on one day. So I try to make it special and enjoy it as much as I can. Since I've chosen to visit once a week, we get a long much better & I actually get a chance to "miss her" during the work week.
Cynthia, thank you for sharing your experience! It sounds like you are doing a WONDERFUL job. It's not always easy to apply what you learn. It warms my heart to hear how you are making sure to not lose yourself in the caregiving process. Keep up the good work and thank you for being a part of the Careblazer family.
@@DementiaCareblazers I appreciate your kind words! God Bless you & the work that you do!!!!
Hi Dr. Natalie and Guinness,
Thank you for reminding me of a tried and true method for change I’ve used before. One tends to forget because of the energy drain caregiving mom.🙏🏼☮️
Tim you are spot on! It is so easy to get wrapped up in caregiving that you forget to do things you know are good for you.
Ashley L
Thank you Ashley L you’re kind to say and fortify, goodness for you too.🙂
Wow thank you so much that video was just what I needed to hear!
So glad it was helpful! Good luck with reaching whatever goal you set for yourself!
Thank you for this direction.
Hello Judy
How are you doing today?
I assume the few people who vote thumbs down hit the wrong button. This education should happen the day of a diagnosis, in a book handed to caregivers and patients.
This is so helpful to me thanks a million your information helps much love
Glad it was helpful!
Dr Natalie thank you for your great video always really helpful for caregivers
I love seeing your pictures in the FB group, Jozef! You do such a good job caring for your wife.
@@DementiaCareblazers thank you it's not easy trying my best
Thank you ….Nova Scotia ❤Canada
Hello Carol
How are you doing today?
Wisdom!!!
I'm so grateful to have found your channel. Just what I need and so validating.
So glad!
I will begin caregiver compound effect notes: including things like skills,and exhaustion
Hello Rhonda
How are you doing today?
Dr Natalie I do have a question about care givers iwant to know if you have come across caregivers denial I have been with my partner for 43 yrs he has had a stroke which has seemingly made his dementia worse sometimes he seems OK other times not meaning that at times he can't converse or understand what I say or his behaviour is almost childlike I do mostly talk to him as if he doesn't have dementia other times I try to ignore his horrid remarks or the fact that he even does have dementia as he has always been very anti about most things he hasn't actually been diagnosed so sometimes I don't know where I am with him feeling sorry for someone you have loved and still love is not very practical so basically I just hang in there and take it on a day to day basis and treat him as best as I can but I do think that maybe I am in denial of his illness and hope to god that whatever this is it will go away thankyou for all you do in helping people please if you can reply to my question
This video is one of the best motivational video's ever . . . especially during the China virus lockdown!!! :-D
Hello Kathy
How are you doing today?
Ok fine I’ll go and do one sit-up 🤦🏻♀️❤
What can be done when someone can not talk, walk and has to be fed. I’m just a friend that goes to visit almost everyday cause he doesn’t have any family around and his caretaker lives 1500 miles away. He has been in nursing home for about 10 years, I just found out last August . It’s a very sad story. When I went up to see him the very first time it was 2 O’clock in the afternoon and his room was dark and of course he was sleeping. Since then they put him in his wheelchair and wheel him out to a nice room like a living room. We hold hands which he wants to do and I play music for him. I ask some questions and he answers yes or no by moving his head. When it’s time for dinner I leave after struggling to let go of my hands. I found out that when I tell him I’ll be back tomorrow he’ll let go and smiles.Makes me so sad to leave him. Any ideas?
Aww. ..this made me cry. Usually they will take to the bed and pass away. You did say 10 years. They get too weak in no time.The journey will end. Kiss that hand ,Remind them you love them. I feel you made every visit pleasant.
Do you sell your DVD's. My wife really needs this.
Hi thank you for your videos. My mom entered an assisted living and She has Alzheimer's. I have Durable POA and want to sell her home to pay the facility. The bank wants me to go through guardianship . I do not know what to do any advice. We reside in Florida.
My husband, who has dementia associated with normal pressure Hydrocephaly,sometimes falls into what his doctor calls ‘brain fogs’. I have also called his behavior sundowning. He will not sleep at night. He gets out of bed constantly. He thinks he must go and check on the neighbors, or clean out the pantry, or just wander around the house. He did set the microwave oven on fire one time before I realized he was even in the kitchen. He cannot be talked out of his perceptions. Can you suggest how I should treat him while he is going through one of these times? I find it frustrating and unmanageable. Luckily I have now employed night.nurses, who do, of course, help, even if they do not seem to know what to do to get him out of his brain fog. We usually just have to let it run it’s course. But if you have any tips on how to ameliorate his distress, I would be most grateful to know them
MNy thanks, Carol Waugh
Do you have a video on how to handle a dementia person when having to move them out of their own home into yours? The times has come to move mom with me:(
I moved my mom into my 1 bedroom condo 2 years ago. (I sleep on my couch. ). Give yourself a year to get used to all the changes. At first, I had a lot of resentment, frustration, anger. But now I can more clearly see that my mom’s behaviors are due to the disease, and it has become easier. My mom has good doctors, a part-time caregiver when I’m at work, they help. I am working on more self care to make time for myself. It is easy to get lost in the thick of taking care of someone else.
Still can't get my head round why my husband has ftd. He was alright till he had three lots of vitamin b injections. Then at the end of 2017 he was diagnosed with frontolobe
Are you sure all the shots were all vitamin B? Could they have given him a flu and pneumonia shot as well and that may have put him over the edge? I always check the vial and read the insert before the shots are given - they won't mind, honestly. You might even ask to take the insert home with you. I assume it was vitamin B12 he was getting. You can learn to give them to him yourself - so easy. They are subcutaneous - just under the skin (short needle) This way YOU are in control and it's so much more convenient.
@@hallamneil he had three lots of injections within six months. He started going down hill after that.
@@paulacrowther2890 Sorry, I misunderstood, I thought you were attributing his sudden decline to the Vitamin B shots. At least you have found this wonderful site. We are so lucky.
@@paulacrowther2890 that’s interesting. Do you think the Vitamin B shots had something to do with it? My mom and her husband were getting them every month for over a year, and now that I think about it, they both had developed bvFTD after that. It didn’t help that both had NPD. Studies show that NPD is almost always a precursor to developing Dementia.
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I need to change my attitude with my husband who has dementia. I go several days calm and at ease with him, then I snap. He gets something on his mind to do that may not be a good decision and nothing will stop him and that’s she. I lose it. I’m on 2 BP meds. Anti depressive, and anxiety meds. I’m afraid I’m going to have a heart attack or stroke.I can’t get through to him at all. He has OCD, DEMENTIA SND IS DEAF JUST A SLIGHT HEARING. Anyone else have it this bad?? How can I improve my care giving skills.
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Drink more water each day less caffeine walk the trail with my client