Learning How to Cope with Family in Alzheimer’s Care Facilities
Having a family member with Alzheimer’s disease can be stressful and emotional. This has been the same struggle for every family of more than 16 million Alzheimer’s patients in the United States alone.
Seeking support can be quite a challenge as well. But Alzheimer’s Care Facilities care for you or family members living with this disease.
Alzheimer’s Care Facilities: Coming to Terms
Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s presents new challenges with the person living with the disease but also for the family. Apart from the stigma attached to the condition, this can cause the person to question his/her worth, capabilities, and identity.
This can be overwhelming but there are ways to retain life’s meaning and purpose. Alzheimer’s does not have to define who you are. Instead, it is just part of who you are. Whether it is you or your loved ones staying in Alzheimer’s Care Facilities, there are a handful of ways to still find meaning and purpose in life.
- Consider exploring other activities that may bring meaning and purpose.
- Stay active and engaged in activities that you always enjoy. Or encourage your family member to continue doing things that he or she loves to do.
- Consider doing things that you or other family members can do together.
- Check opportunities in the community that spark their interest or will highlight their strengths.
- Also, work on identifying new hobbies or activities that your person may love to try.
- Encourage your loved one to stay connected with other residents in the facility for tips and learn how they remained active and engaged.
Ways to Cope
Coping with sudden and major life changes can be stressful. While stress is a normal psychological reaction to life’s challenges, this can also put your well-being at risk. A small amount of stress can be a source of motivation, but stressful life events can make you feel lonely, unproductive, and demotivated.
With that, it is important to adjust and adapt. So when things become challenging, you need coping mechanisms to reduce and manage stressors. Your coping mechanism can be healthy or unhealthy. But between the two, it would be best to find a coping style that will reduce the impacts of stress.
Various Coping Mechanisms
Journaling is a coping mechanism that is effective and therapeutic as this will give you time or loved ones in Alzheimer’s Care Facilities to examine the current situation and understand the situation better to come up with better decisions.
Staying positive is another effective strategy that lowers levels of stress, pain, and depression.
Laughter is a cheap and effective solution to decreasing stress levels while at the same time improving mood.
Meditation can give you a sense of peace and calm. You can teach your loved ones to meditate and benefit from this ancient practice. It can produce a deep sense of calmness and help you get through a rough day.
When you or your loved ones in Alzheimer’s Care Facilities meditate, it helps reduce negative emotions while increasing patience and tolerance. It also boosts sleep quality.
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Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper
