Five Tips for Families Whose Loved One Has Just Been Diagnosed with Dementia

5.       Begin to carve out some quality time daily for self-care. You’re embarking on a long, winding and stressful road.  Trust me when I tell you that it’s very easy to put off taking care of yourself, especially in the early rush of caregiving.  And then as the stress increases, you begin to see and feel the consequences of putting yourself last (such as not sleeping, gaining weight, etc.). This vicious cycle can lead to the deterioration of your own health; if that happens, you’re not going to be fully there as a caregiver for your loved one. Therefore, it is critical that you begin on Day One to carve out some time for yourself. Take a walk. Go see a movie. Eat healthy meals. Know that whatever you do, practicing self-care is an important gift to yourself and to your loved one.

These five tips can help set the tone for your caregiving efforts. By focusing on these five areas, you can better deal with the issues that will arise in your caregiving journey.