Mirela Article - Caregiving Difficulties

Course of Illness and Caregiving

Caring for a person with dementia Alzheimer’s disease or dementia (Alzheimer’s disease or dementia) at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times.

Caregiving for a person with dementia can be a very rewarding experience, especially knowing that your loved one is safe and that you are helping him or her to receive the best care. Many caregivers report that their relationship with their loved one actually improves as they search to understand their loved one’s changing situation. Throughout your time of caregiving, you may build many positive and loving memories as well. Similarly, most people generally tend to feel better about themselves when they know they are doing something to help another person. Not only does caregiving give you a chance to connect with your loved one, but as a caregiver taking advantage of all the outside resources and support, you surround yourself with many people who understand your situation and want to share in the experience.

However, providing care for a loved one with memory problems may pose many challenges as well. We will now turn our focus to YOU, the family caregivers, who tend to have similar reactions to their loved ones’ diseases. Some common reactions include feelings of:

  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Despair
  • Ambivalence
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Grief
  • Guilt
  • Frustration


Although these reactions are common among caregivers, they tend to increase stress and decrease physical and mental well-being. By learning to deal more effectively with this stress, you will be able to take better care of your loved one as well as yourself.
The goal of our program is to teach you a set of skills or “tools” for coping with the difficulties that arise when caring for a loved one with memory problems. This will help you to feel more in control of your everyday life.

General Strategies for YOU – the Caregiver

These are some ways to help YOURSELF in your caregiving role:

  • Have knowledge about dementia and accurate information about your loved one’s level of functioning. This is the key to your success. 
  • Accept that there will be good and bad days – it’s not your fault when your efforts don’t always pay off.
  • “Good enough for now” results really are good enough. There is much about this disease that can’t be changed or fixed.
  • Set priorities to save energy for the “must do” tasks, and delegate tasks to others.
  • Don’t argue or try to rationalize a problematic situation with your loved one.
  • Relaxation exercises may improve your mood.
  • Consider outside help as needed.