Caregiver Coping, Stress, and Burnout

Being a caregiver for someone with dementia can be very rewarding as well as quite challenging. Care-giving requires the dedication of time, as well as physical and emotional energy. Review these 7 signs of caregiver overload to evaluate how you're doing in the important job of taking care of yourself as well as your loved one.

Are you caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or another dementia? Sometimes caregivers get stuck in patterns that aren't helpful. Do you see your tendencies in any of these ares?

Holidays can be stressful for anyone, but caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer's disease might experience added holiday stress due to changes in the care recipient's condition or lack of understanding among family members who only visit during the holidays. If holiday stress is sapping some joy out of the season, these tips can help.

Caregiver health is an important issue to address when planning for Alzheimer's care. At the 2008 Rocky Mountain Geriatrics Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, Richard Schulz, Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, reported on the results of his research about caregiver health and mortality.

If you're a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, it's natural to be concerned about the current financial crisis. You're not alone in wondering how you'll continue to be able to afford Alzheimer's care and handle other regular expenses. Find out how to keep your cool during difficult financial times.

The emotional and physical demands of caregiving make it hard to be a caregiver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Without respite -- a temporary break from the demands of caregiving -- you may be more susceptible to the effects of caregiver stress. Learn why you need respite and where to find respite care for your loved one.

Alzheimer's disease changes the lives of those with the disease as well as their caregivers. If you are a caregiver, learn how to cope with your loved one's disease by learning about it, planning ahead, and adjusting your expectations.

Alzheimer's caregivers are at high risk for burnout due to the demanding tasks of caregiving. Learn how to prevent burnout by caring for oneself and reaching out to others.

When a loved one has Alzheimer's, it doesn't just affect the health and emotional well-being of the person with the disease. Caregivers -- whether a partner, relative, or adult child -- are tremendously impacted by the disease as well. Learn how to help caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease who are experiencing difficult emotions and mood swings.

Caregiving is a long-term, full-time job that can wear you down, physically and emotionally. About.com's Guide to Senior Living, Sharon O'Brien, offers valuable tips for coping with caregiver stress.

The National Center on Elder Abuse provides an enlightening fact sheet about the relationship between caregiving, stress, and elder abuse. Resources and suggestions for caregivers are included.

When a grandparent has Alzheimer's disease, this can be very difficult for a child. Even well educated adults have trouble understanding the disease, the behaviors that often accompany it, and the best ways to communicate with their affected loved ones. Learn how to talk with a child whose grandparent has Alzheimer's.