How to Cope With Loved Ones That Are Losing Their Memory

Watching a loved one lose their memory is one of life's toughest challenges. Caregivers tend to experience a variety of emotions and feelings, including anger, helplessness, denial and depression. Take time to familiarize yourself with the steps you can take to reconcile your feelings and to alleviate the burden placed on you. Doing so will help you to provide your loved one with the best care and support possible.

Instructions

• 1

  Make yourself and your loved ones laugh as often as possible. Humor has been recognized as a temporary antidote for illness, stress and sadness.

• 2

  Provide yourself with adequate help. Enlist professional help if you are having trouble managing the patient's care. Consider joining a support group, which can help you process your emotions by sharing and learning about the experiences of others.

• 3

  Schedule frequent breaks from care giving and rest periods for yourself. Recharging can often help you be a more effective caregiver and support system.

• 4

  Keep a journal, which will encourage reflection, introspection and other helpful processes that can lead to acceptance and emotional progress.

• 5

  Incorporate routine activities into every day. Whether it is taking a short walk or playing a board game, activities that you both enjoy will provide you and your loved one with needed reassurance.

• 6

  Explain to other family members and friends about the patient's condition. Talk to them about how to communicate with the patient and what emotional and physical changes they should expect to see in the patient. These steps will prevent family members and friends--important sources of support--from pulling away from you and the patient due to a lack of understanding or fear.

• 7

  Do not attempt to shoulder the entire burden of care giving. Whenever possible, divide tasks, commitments and expenses among you and other family members.