Caregiver Loneliness Makes Dementia Care Harder
When you're caring for an older adult with dementia, it's common to experience caregiver loneliness. Family caregivers face many challenges, emotionally, financially, and physically. There are ways to help with the isolation. Have you prepared for your future long-term health care?
When you're caring for an older adult with dementia, it's common to experience caregiver loneliness. You may feel unappreciated by other family members who are not the primary caregiver. Unless you have gone through the experience of being a family caregiver, most people will not understand.
The family caregiving responsibility usually falls on just one person, usually a daughter or daughter-in-law. They become isolated from the rest of the family due to the overwhelming nature of being a caregiver. This isolation affects their personal, family, and professional relationships. Typically they must reduce their works hours or even quit their job to be the primary caregiver.
The consequences are tremendous on the caregiver and their family. The job of being a caregiver is demanding even for professionals. However, when you add the emotional connection between the caregiver and the care recipient, you add another dynamic that affects both of them.
Caregiving is Hard and Often Creates Isolation
The amount of time the family caregiver spends with their own family (spouse and children) is also reduced. Caregiving even hurts the relationships with the entire family. The relationship between the caregiver's friends and co-workers is also negatively impacted.
Many family caregivers must cut back on their jobs or leave their jobs, impacting their finances. But remember, their career is part of who they are for many people, and the work relations can be almost as important as the family relationships.
Studies have also shown that caregivers also fail to consider their physical health and mental health. While this is especially true for caregivers over age 40, even younger caregivers can see a decline in their health due to the physical and psychological stress of the job.
The lack of advance planning for long-term health care creates a family crisis. Remember, this crisis is not just a financial one. It impacts a family emotionally, physically, and financially.
When your loved one has dementia, the impact on caregiving becomes even greater. Loneliness is a common feeling for caregivers of those with dementia. It might feel like nobody else understands what you're going through, even if you have a good support system.
Dr. Barry J. Jacobs writes about caregiver loneliness in dementia care shares these tips for caregivers.
Professional Care Helps
If your loved one has Long-Term Care Insurance, be sure to utilize the policy's benefits. If the policy includes in-home care - and most do - use the policy. Use the benefits even if you use them for respite care to give the family caregiver a break. Professional caregivers are trained to handle these situations. In many situations, the care recipient may enjoy someone else coming in to provide help. Care recipients will often be more forthcoming with a stranger than a family member. Plus, the relationship between parents and adult family members can remain the same. For example, a daughter maintains being a daughter instead of a caregiver.
LTC NEWS can help you process a Long-Term Care Insurance claim. Through our arrangement with Amada Senior Care, they will do all the work of processing your claim, free with no obligation.
You can also get support in finding quality caregivers and get recommendations for a proper care plan, whether a person has a policy or not. - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.
Prepare Your Family and Finances for Future Long-Term Care
What have you done to prepare your family and finances for future declining health and aging? Caregiving is hard, and paid professional care is expensive. Preparing your family and finances for the financial costs and burdens of aging will reduce the crisis from starting in the first place. It will give time for the family to be family without the consequences of caregiving.
Affordable Long-Term Care Insurance is essential to plan for a successful future retirement. This plan will give you access to your choice of quality care, either at home or in a facility. LTC insurance will provide tax-free money for quality caregivers and case management, which will help develop a plan of care, reducing the pressure and burdens otherwise placed on family members.
Research LTC Insurance Before You Retire
Start your research when you are in your 40s or 50s as you plan for your future retirement. Premiums are very affordable at those ages, and you may qualify for good health discounts. LTC NEWS has many research tools.
Be sure to seek professional help in researching and shopping for Long-Term Care Insurance. Premiums vary over 100% between companies, and every insurance company has its own underwriting rules.
A qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist will understand these plans and make the right recommendations. Using a specialist instead of a financial advisor or general insurance agent will save you a lot of money.
Act before you retire and give yourself and your family peace of mind.
About the Author
An LTC News author focusing on long-term care and aging.
James Kelly
Contributor since August 21st, 2017
Editor's Note
Being prepared for declining health and the consequences of aging should be a crucial part of your overall retirement plan. People need long-term care services due to an illness, accident, or the impact of aging. Health insurance and Medicare (including supplements) will not pay for most of these costs.
Family caregivers find it hard to juggle their careers and family responsibilities with that of a caregiver for an older parent. The burden is something most people have said in surveys that they don't want to place on their family.
The solution is affordable Long-Term Care Insurance. LTC Insurance provides guaranteed tax-free benefits to access your choice of quality care options, including care at home. You will protect your income and assets and reduce the stress and anxiety otherwise placed on loved ones.
Planning Tools and Resources on LTC NEWS
You can find many tools and resources on LTC NEWS to assist you in your research for a planning solution or help your family find the appropriate care for a loved one at the time of crisis.
To help you plan the costs and burdens of changing health and aging, LTC NEWS has put in place several resources, including:
- The LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator will show you the current and future cost of long-term health care services where you live. Plus, each state has vital state-specific information you should know - Cost of Care Calculator - Choose Your State | LTC News
- The Ultimate Long-Term Care Guide is an outstanding read to help you get a good overview of the topic area.
- Compare the major insurance companies that offer Long-Term Care Insurance products here - Top Insurers for Long-Term Care Insurance | LTC News.
- A detailed tax guide that includes available tax incentives can be found by reviewing the Long-Term Care Tax Benefits Guide.
Find all the resources on LTC NEWS - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News.
Seek Professional Guidance
Insurance rates are regulated, so no insurance agent, agency, or financial advisor can give you special deals. However, insurance companies' premiums vary over 100% for the same coverage.
Experts suggest using a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you navigate the many options available to you and your family.
A specialist who works with the top companies can match your age, health, family history, and other factors and find you the best coverage at the best value. A specialist will save you money, and you will have peace of mind knowing they are making the appropriate recommendations - Work With a Specialist | LTC News.
Finding Quality Care for Mom or Dad
Start by reading our guides -
- Finding Quality In-Home Care | LTC News
- Adult Day Care Centers (ADCCs) | LTC News
- Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities | LTC News
- Finding a Quality Nursing Home | LTC News
If they are lucky enough to own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, be sure they use it. Sometimes families wait, thinking they can save the benefits for a rainy day. Waiting on using available Long-Term Care Insurance benefits is not a wise idea.
Get Help in Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim
Quality care obtained early will help provide a better quality of life and reduce the risk of a deep decline and facility care. If you need help in starting the process of a Long-Term Care Insurance claim, LTC NEWS can help.
LTC NEWS provides free assistance with no obligation to help you or a loved one complete the claims process with a Long-Term Care Insurance policy. We have teamed up with Amada Senior Care, who will do all the work, free with no obligation.
You can also get support in finding quality caregivers and get recommendations for a proper care plan, whether a person has a policy or not. - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.
Benefits of Reverse Mortgages
Today's reverse mortgages for those aged 62 and older could be an ideal resource to fund a Long-Term Care Insurance policy OR even provide money to pay for care if you, or a loved one, already needs help and assistance.
Some people have much of their savings invested in their homes. With today's reverse mortgages, you can find ways to fund care solutions, care itself, even help with cash flow during your retirement.
Learn more by asking questions to an expert. LTC NEWS columnist and host of the TV Show "62 Who Knew" will answer your questions regarding caregiving, aging, health, retirement planning, long-term care, and reverse mortgages.
- Just "Ask Mike." - Reverse Mortgages | LTC News.
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