Duane Hicks
There’s 564,000 people with dementia in Canada, with that number projected to rise to nearly one million in a few years.
For all of those people suffering from dementia, there’s usually at least one family member taking care of them.
Together, they’re providing millions of hours of unpaid care.
That’s why it’s so important for caregivers to also take the time to take care of themselves.
That’s the heart of the message geriatric mental health clinician Angela Gentile (née Wilson) told the 70 people gathered at La Place Rendez-Vous on Saturday night for the annual “Forget Me Not” fundraiser dinner, which raised $4,250 for the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River Districts.
Gentile, who originally hails from Fort Frances but now lives in Winnipeg, designed, implemented, and evaluated a short-term counselling program for eight caregiving women who had husbands with dementia as part of her requirements to obtain her Masters of Social Work degree in 2014.
What she learned formed the basis of her recent book, “Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide.”
Gentile said caregivers often “go above and beyond” when providing care and, at times, it can be too much to sustain. They suffer stress and feel overwhelmed taking care of themselves and another person.
They put themselves last and this leads to burnout, she added.
Signs of this include denial, anger, social withdrawal, isolation, anxiety, depression, sleepiness and exhaustion, irritability, lack of concentration, and withholding affection from the care receiver.
Gentile said the eight women she worked with “had lots of awesome tips” for managing that stress.
Some of these include:
•knowing what resources are available;
•knowing how to ask for help;
•learning relaxation techniques (meditation/Tai Chi); and
•get moving (dancing/walking).
Making time for yourself, going out with friends, keeping up with religious or spiritual practices, treating yourself (including mini-vacations), and educating yourself about dementia and Alzheimer’s are other tips.
Still other ideas include playing games, doing puzzles, painting, writing, reading, shopping, and even going to work.
“The bottom line is for caregivers to take time for themselves,” stressed Gentile.
“And have fun doing it.”
While being a caregiver is a great responsibility, it’s not without its own rewards, Gentile said.
“Those who are able to see the benefits of caregiving are able to see lower levels of depression,” she noted.
A recent study showed caregiving provides a sense of giving back to someone who has cared for them, a sense of knowing a loved one is getting excellent care, personal growth, and increased meaning and purpose in one’s life.
Gentile said she’s discovered caregiving is a journey with a beginning and an end–and each person’s journey is different.
Dementia expert Dr. Eric Pfeiffer has noted that at the end of the journey, many caregivers emerge feeling more capable and stronger after their experience.
Some choose to take on the cause of helping others who are going through a similar experience while others move on to new, different experiences.
“Caring for a Husband with Dementia” includes more information for caregivers, such as tips and solutions to common and difficult behaviours seen with dementia.
It is available for sale at Tompkins Hardware in Emo, with copies also available for loan at the public libraries in Fort Frances and Emo.
It’s also for sale online at Amazon.ca along with her other book, “A Book About Burnout: One Social Worker’s Tale of Survival.”
Gentile and one of her sons also developed an app–Dementia Caregiver Solutions Mobile App–which can be purchased for IOS devices on the iTunes Store.
The app can be used anytime, anywhere to offer solutions to dementia-related problems that come up for caregivers.
Not only is it good for friends and family of those with dementia, but health-care workers in nursing homes and the like.
Gentile also has a Facebook group, “Dementia Caregivers Solutions Support Group,” and has a website angelaggentile.com
Support available
The local Alzheimer Society has caregiver support groups here in Rainy River District.
They meet on the third Friday of the month at the United Church in Emo at 10 a.m. and then in the Rainycrest chapel here in Fort Frances at 1 p.m.
“They’re not open to the public; they’re only for families that are client that are dealing with this,” stressed Mary O’Connor, Client Services co-ordinator for the local Alzheimer Society.
She added the groups are confidential and privacy is assured, but noted friendships do develop through the support group.
O’Connor noted some people are too busy caring for a loved one to attend meetings. But recently they’ve found a solution to this problem by having Community Living art therapist Lindsay Hamilton work with dementia patients while their caregivers get a break.
Community Living is paying for Hamilton to work with patients while the Rainycrest Auxiliary has paid for the art supplies.
“It has really, really been phenomenal,” enthused O’Connor.
Yet another form of help is the “Dementia Help Line” which is available anytime seven days a week by calling toll-free 1-866-797-0000.
This province-wide free service gives callers immediate dementia support, advice, and referrals.
A good cause
Events like the “Forget Me Not” dinner are important to the local Alzheimer Society, as those who attend provide support and bring awareness to the cause, said executive director Rossana Tomashowski.
Their newest campaign is entitled #InItForAlz.
“Dementia does not discriminate. It can affect anyone,” Tomashowski stressed.
“It’s not just their disease, it’s ours, too.
“Not only does it affect the individual with the disease but many others that care for them, as well,” she noted.
“Stats show that for every person with Alzheimer’s, 10-12 others are directly impacted–family, friends, co-workers.
“It is one of the fastest-growing diseases of our times, with no cure or effective treatments to date,” said Tomashowski.
However, recent research indicates a person with dementia can postpone the decline of memory if they continue to do the things they love and remain active in their communities with the right help and support.
“That’s where we come in–as your support and education,” said Tomashowski.
One program launched last summer was the “Music Project,” where the Alzheimer Society reconnects individuals “with the soundtrack of their life” by giving them iPods loaded up with music.
Donations of gently-used iPods for the program are welcome.
Dinner-goers also were treated to the sweet sounds of brother-sister duo, “Entyrely Mac,” and talented young singer Piper Lidkea, and spent their money at the penny table and silent auction.
Johnathan Price of 93.1 The Border was the master of ceremonies.
