Caregiving Both Ways: A Guide to Caring for a Loved One with Dementia (and Yourself!)

by Molly Wisniewski

Overview

This essential guide to caring for a loved one with dementia offers experienced advice on communication, self-care and finding the support you need.

When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, it can be difficult to know what to do. Your day can spiral into a never-ending series of tasks and attempts to communicate that leave you both frustrated. In Caregiving Both Ways, Molly Wisniewski offers essential advice for avoiding burnout and acclimating yourself to this new phase of life. Molly demonstrates how to navigate difficult moments with techniques she’s mastered from years of experience working with dementia sufferers.

When your loved one behaves differently than they used to, they’re just communicating in a new way. As a caregiver, the most important thing you can do is learn that new language. Balancing your own priorities in this time can be a challenge, but honoring self-care is essential when caring for others. Molly covers all this, plus how to build a strong support system with help from professional caregivers and how to prepare for end-of-life care.

In Caregiving Both Ways, you’ll find worksheets, exercises, and essential tips for smart, empathetic caregiving. You'll learn how to:

• Use non-medical interventions to reduce anxiety
• Prioritize and make time for your own care and mental health
• Identify triggers that may cause confusion in your loved one
• Handle difficult medical decisions
• Provide support and validation through all stages of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642506983
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	01/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	178
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Molly Wisniewski is a freelance writer and consultant in the aging services. She received her M.A. in the Management of Aging Services at the Erickson School, UMBC. She has over ten years experience working with seniors in a variety of settings including Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Public Policy, and Consumer Advocacy. She began her career with a mentor dedicated to the teaching of Resident Rights and a strong advocate for the quality of life and care for seniors living in nursing homes. As an activity professional, she is continuously humbled by the joy, kindness, and compassion individuals living with dementia have in their heart and their willingness to share this love with all those they meet. Her mission is to help caregivers cultivate the same type of relationships with the older adults living with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in their life. Her blog the Upside to Aging is dedicated to sharing an alternative and more positive side to aging.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction 15

Part 1 How to Ease Care through Activity Engagement

Chapter 1 The Unexpected Family Caregiver 22

Chapter 2 Three Ways to Avoid Caregiver Burnout 44

Chapter 3 Dementia Care 68

Chapter 4 Approaches to Address Behaviors 84

Chapter 5 Activities to Ease Care Tasks 110

Part 2 Release Guilt and Explore Care Options

Chapter 6 Managing Difficult Aspects of Care 128

Chapter 7 How to Have a Conversation about Care 140

Chapter 8 Available Senior Living Options 162

Chapter 9 What to Look for in a Nursing Home 174

Chapter 10 Once a Caregiver, Always a Caregiver 190

Thank You 198

Acknowledgments 199

References 201

About the Author 206