Christine,
Thanks for the post. The roles and relationships among the family for the dementia person defintely would change a great deal.
In the beginning it is going to be very traumatic and stressful as it comes in as a shock.
Later on when the person gets worse and needs 24 hour care or even a nursing home, the stress level changes. Well, the person does not remember the bad past so it is in a way a better focus since he forgot the sad past and make the family feel less guilty. On the other hand, the family ends up taking care of the person regarding quality of life and it is a hard decision all the time. When to stop treatment? When to get hospice? When to change the method of care or the place where he lives? All kinds of questions.
The other stress also comes from dealing with friends, neighbors and family members... People who don't understand would often make some comment or even blame on the family caregivers.
It is a long shot and it definitely changes the family life style for all concerned.
The community has now started to support families but it will help more if we promote such needs and educate the general public.
Thanks for the post.
Regards,
Nina
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This post is especially interesting to me now because of the timing, Christine. I'm posting soon on the Well Spouse Association as support for spousal caregivers. Adult children's roles change a great deal when a parent is sick, but spouses perhaps have an even bigger adjustment. Thanks for this informative post.
Carol