Care giving for someone with dementia is rewarding but also involves many stressors. Over the years I have experienced many moments of frustration and stress while providing care and programming.
I have learned to understand and know the warning signs. Look for your personal signs such as change in sleep patterns, change in appetite, and changes in physical and mental status.
Both you and the person you are giving care will suffer when you are stressed out. Sometimes my associates that I work with see me stressed out in a program and see that I need a break.
There have been times throughout my career that I do feel burned out. When you burn out care giving is not a healthy option. You will need to recognize the problem and address it. It's going to be time to consider respite stays, home companions, adult day care, or placement in a community.
For me it’s time off from work or a vacation. But I can’t always do that so a brief 15 minutes away will do the trick. Over the years it’s become evident to me that taking care of myself is how I have survived the stressful moments during programming with people who have dementia.
If those are not options that are available to you consider talking to a mental health professional. You will need to find ways to help yourself with the assistance of a professional. Pat yourself on the back and know that you are doing everything as the advocate. Embracing the situation can help to put the situation in perspective.
Think of all the positive actions and care that you are providing. Every day I can see the difference that I make in my residents’ lives. You make a difference also as a caregiver. Look at what you can control and choose to use it to provide care. Talk to other people who are caregivers. Discuss matters with family and friends. Join a support group. Don't be afraid to talk about your feelings.
Speak about what is stressing you out. Get help because you really can’t expect others to know you need the help. Accept help from others when they offer. Most importantly remind yourself that you are doing the very best for the one you are taking care of.
I watch nurses and caregivers who are compassionate while giving care to someone with Alzheimer's and dementia. People depend on them to assist with daily task and ADL's or task. I believe that most are working to provide the best care they can do. But this is a difficult job. Very difficult. So how do management and colleagues ensure that our care giving staff remains compassionate about the difficult job of taking care of the patient with dementia?
There are many ways to do this. I think one way to ensure compassion occur is to meet with the staff and discuss what compassion means to each individual. Compassion is a feeling of deep sorry and sympathy for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Each caregiver will likely have a different idea of what compassion means. Meet with the caregivers and talk about this. This can give you the opportunity to discover how your caregiver staff defines compassion. It could also influence how they will think of compassion after the discussion.
After the group meets take the thought of what each person thinks how compassion is defined and create a core value in the workplace. Live the words. Gently remind staff throughout the day how the core values of your compassion directly affects the people they are caring for.
Make small business cards with the core values and ask they carry it around with them in their pockets while working. Place the reminders in a picture frame located next to the time clock to remind everyone why they are there before and after work. As a manager or colleague remember your caregiver’s idea of compassion and praise them when they follow it during care. Pat on the back, conversation, or some kind of simple reward is allowable as long as everyone receives praise.
If an associate seems is not showing compassion, it's important to investigate. That person may be showing compassion but as the manager it's not visible. They might be practicing their version of compassion when you are not in the vicinity. Discover if the associate can practice compassion more. Take the strengths of how they are currently being compassionate and build it so it's more visible in the environment. Could there be roadblocks that is making this person not able to practice compassion? This is a great time to take the road blocks away and give more empowerment to your nurse or caregiver to become more compassionate than ever!
Praise and praise more. Remember that being a nurse or caregiver to someone with dementia is very difficult. The patient change in mood and physical abilities change frequently. The patient needs compassion from the nurse and caregiver. They simply need this to get through the moments. Believe in the core values of what compassion means to your co-workers.
Comments