09/19/2025
An estimated 11 million Americans today provide unpaid care for loved ones with dementia or Alzheimerās, the majority (65%) are women.
Most people who provide care and support to a person with Alzheimerās disease donāt think of themselves as caregivers. Rather, they consider themselves to be a devoted spouse, child, family member or friend helping a loved one in a time of need.
If you pause for a moment and think about all you do, you may be surprised by the depth and extent of your involvement. As a caregiver ā and similar to the well-known pre-flight instruction ā āyou must put on your oxygen mask first before assisting others.ā
You must take care of yourself first in order to be an effective caregiver. So, what should you do? Clinical health psychologist and caregiver expert Lucille Carriere, PhD, offers some self-care tips for managing some of the most common challenges caregivers face:
-Be honest with yourself. Recognize when your loved oneās behavior is more than you can handle. Safety ā your own and your loved oneās ā must be considered at all times.
-Know your limits. Management of problematic behaviors associated with Alzheimerās disease can be stressful. As a caregiver, itās important to know your physical and emotional limits during these stressful episodes and when to reach out to others.
-Professional help is available. There are programs designed specifically for caregivers to learn hands-on skills in managing difficult behaviors while also learning self-care. Caregivers may also benefit from meeting with a counselor to help deal with the daily stressors of caring for a loved one with Alzheimerās disease.
-Join a support group. Lots of other families are caring for a loved one with Alzheimerās disease and can share successful tips for managing behavior problems.