After your spouse is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, there can be a lot of challenges ahead. Dementia can cause a number of changes in your relationship, the care your spouse needs, and your daily life overall. Below, we will discuss some of the different changes you might expect as your spouse’s condition develops further.
Changing Your Roles as a Spouse
Over time, your spouse will be less able to care for themselves or their daily tasks. This can be everything from chores, cooking, budgeting, or paying bills. It is important that you understand where and how your spouse handles bills, and which accounts they use for them. Ensuring that their needs are met while juggling more responsibilities can be a challenge. It can also be overwhelming to have to make important financial or legal decisions without the input of your partner as time goes on.
Intimacy and Connecting with Your Spouse
Loneliness and grief are common experiences for spouses of those with dementia. It can be hard to watch your loved one mentally deteriorate. Over time, they may be less responsive to conversations, less engaged, and less affectionate. You may feel like you are losing your partner.
Depression, frustration, sadness, and guilt are common for spouses in these conditions. Consider consulting with a mental health specialist, joining a support group, or finding other ways to care for your mental health during this time. It is easy to put your loved one’s needs over yours as they struggle with their condition. However, your needs are also just as valid.
Time Management and Your Needs
It can be a struggle to maintain your time and needs as you take on more of a caregiver role for your spouse. Just remember, it is important to take care of yourself as well. Try to manage your time in order to take care of your needs too. Asking for help or hiring care assistance may be necessary in order to balance your life with your new responsibilities. And that is totally OK.
Asking For Help
Friends, family members, and other loved ones can be an important part of caring for your partner. Dementia can make it harder for your spouse to care for themselves daily. You may not have the physical or emotional capacity to handle it all. Consider asking for help from close loved ones when needed.
Dementia Care Assistance for Your Spouse
You may not always be able to rely on loved ones to help you with their care as their condition advances. This can be especially true after their dementia leads to mobility issues. Be sure to consider care options for your loved one. This can include hiring a home health aide. A home health aide can assist with their daily needs, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and more. Since 1967, Safe Harbor Healthcare Services has provided home health aides and other in-home care services to the State Island community.
Safe Harbor Healthcare Services does not provide medical, healthcare, or financial advice via articles. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for medical advice.
Safe Harbor Healthcare Services has been providing excellent home care on Staten Island since 1967. Our services help the elderly and disabled live safely and independently; while giving their families the peace of mind they need. For more information contact us by clicking here, or call (718)-979-6900.
