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LONG
TERM CARE - STRESS
 For
caregivers such as your family members, caring for someone needing
long term care is difficult and stressful. Not only do your caregivers
have to deal with their own daily lives, they now have the burden
of caring for you.
Your children may have
full time jobs and children of their own. Their daily lives are
already busy and stressful. Add to that, caring for you! It would
only add to the stress of every day life. Would you want that for
your children?
EXAMPLE:
Betty had a stroke and lost the use of her left hand. Her son,
David worked at home and took care of her. He had to help her
dress and cook for her which was feasible. Each day he had extra
work to do because Betty needed to change into regular clothes
in the day and into pajamas during the night. David also had to
wash Betty's clothes.
 As
time went on, Betty had another mini-stroke and she now needed
help standing and walking. This put much more of a burden on her
son. David now had to help his mother stand whenever she wanted
to walk and he had to help her as she walked. Though it does not
seem like much work, think of this.
Betty
would have to use the bathroom many times during the day. David
would have to help her in the bathroom as well. During the night,
Betty would wake David at 2 am to use the bathroom. Often it was
2 or 3 times a night! David no longer slept through the night.
He became very stressed as he cared for his mother.
Each additional need
increases the stress level for the caregiver. Even the smallest
of needs pile on top. Caring is not easy, even when your caregiver
works at home.
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