Caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's can be a challenging and exhausting experience. It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands of caregiving and forget to show kindness to ourselves and others.
In part two of this unforgettable Advice From Your Advocates Podcast episode, Father Joe Krupp shares his personal and professional journey of providing service and care to those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode, Father Joe offers three sound words of advice for caregivers.
Father Joe’s top 3 rules to live by as a Caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia:
Act how you wish you felt. Even when you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, acting kindly toward others is important. This can help you feel better, too.
Remember that joy is a conviction rather than a feeling. Joy is not something that just happens to us. It's something we choose. When we choose to be kind, we're choosing joy.
Be generous with the invisible aspects of life. Dementia can rob people of their memories, but it can't take away their love, their sense of humor, or their inner beauty. Be generous with your time, your attention, and your love.
In this episode, Father Joe will also discuss the importance of acknowledging and accepting our own limitations, as well as those of others. By doing so, we can better value the skills and expertise of those around us and more effectively meet the needs of the people we care for.
Finally, he will share stories of hope and inspiration from people who have found joy and connection in the midst of dementia care.
We hope this podcast and boot camp replay inspires you to show kindness to yourself and others, especially those caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's.
Here are some additional tips for showing kindness in dementia care:
Be patient and understanding. People with dementia may forget things, get confused, or act out. Be patient and understanding, and try to see things from their perspective.
Use simple language and avoid jargon. People with dementia may have difficulty understanding complex language. Use simple language and avoid jargon.
Be present and engaged. When you're interacting with someone with dementia, give them your full attention. Be present and engaged in the conversation.
Focus on the person, not the disease. Remember that the person with dementia is still a person. Focus on their personality, their interests, and their experiences.
Ask for help when you need it. Caring for someone with dementia can be a lot of work. Don't be afraid to ask for help from family, friends, or professional caregivers.
Connect with an Elder Law Attorney near you who can help create a plan to find and afford long term care, as well as help navigating the elder care journey.
Kindness is a powerful force. It can make a difference in the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. So let's all choose kindness, today and every day.
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