RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

1-18 Months 􀂃 Anxious to provide best possible care for loved one 􀂃 Manages the person with dementia 􀂃 Maintains house, garden, car 􀂃 Attends to family relations 􀂃 “Keeps up appearances” 􀂃 Helps person with dementia through social situations 􀂃 Remains optimistic, caring, supportive 􀂃 Operates as “superwoman/superman” 􀂃 Attends to personal care At 21 Months 􀂃 Begins to take medication, usually for sleep/headaches 􀂃 It becomes harder and harder to keep on top of things 􀂃 Some help from family still available 24-32 months 􀂃 Emotional and physical resources drained 􀂃 Less and less contact with personal doctor, dentist, minister, friends 􀂃 Experiences feelings of powerlessness 􀂃 Caregiving consumes the whole day and night 􀂃 Outside help dwindles away At 32 Months 􀂃 Stress becomes harder to conceal 􀂃 Caregiver begins taking tranquillizers 􀂃 Begins using medication for musculoskeletal pain 􀂃 Sleep is continually disturbed 􀂃 Caregiver becomes irritable 􀂃 Less and less contact with others By 38 Months 􀂃 Caregiver feels unhealthy 􀂃 Finds it hard to get up 􀂃 Never feels rested 􀂃 May have hypertension/colitis 􀂃 Symptoms of chronic fatigue 􀂃 Caregiver loses the will to take care of themself 􀂃 Is unable to manage the household 􀂃 Rarely socializes with others 􀂃 Feels helpless, guilty, a failure After 50 Months 􀂃 Chronic state of fatigue 􀂃 Caregiver is in a state of “unwellness” 􀂃 Is unable to ask for help 􀂃 Becomes isolated 􀂃 Is unable to access resources for information or help C:\!work\NWRC\Caregiver Kit\caregiverfatiguetimeline.doc