Our local dementia caregivers met at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 5 at the Holiday Inn. We had a very good group turnout.
One of our ladies had just lost her husband to the cause of Alzheimer’s and other health problems. As most of us that have gone through this with family and friends, it is always hard to lose our loved ones.
Some ways to reduce caregiver stress include knowing what resources are available in your community. Become educated about the disease, get help from family and friends, take care of yourself — such as, watch your diet, make sure that you are eating healthy, plus getting plenty of rest. Accept the changes that come, and consult your doctor if needed to help manage your stress level.
Also, engage in legal and financial planning. This is very important because some time later may be too late, then you can have major problems in regard to property ownership.
Give yourself credit for going ahead and handling these important tasks. Don’t feel guilty for doing these as it is so much easier at this point. So take care, plus you do need to have a fun time so go get a funny movie or video as it is great to laugh.
Another great help is to make use of your friends and neighbors, as they are priceless. Don’t be afraid to find new friends as all the connections we make in life are very valuable and worthwhile.
Our next meeting will take place at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Holiday Inn. We love to have new faces, and we are a pretty fun group. Like I say — If you don’t laugh, you will cry.
