http://rethinkdementia.ca CAREGIVERS’ QUIZ Support can build strength and resilience: building up your caregiver reserves (even if you’re not feeling overwhelmed today) can help you when the dementia journey becomes chaotic and challenging. Without good support, caregiver stress, anxiety, and depression can increase. This quiz has been developed to help caregivers understand where they are, and what kind of support might be helpful to them. Take the quiz, and find out what the results might mean for you as a caregiver and what you might want to think about. Tip: Use the scorecard on page 4 to help keep track of your answers. Remember, most caregivers have not been provided with adequate support options, so don’t feel stressed about being stressed – this is very common. There are people ready to help you in finding the right support for you and your family. 1 2 3 How oſten do you get a good night’s sleep (seven or more hours)? How oſten do you keep up with leisure activities that you enjoyed before caregiving? How oſten do you feel irritable or lose your patience with others? A. Every day B. Oſten C. Sometimes D. Seldom or never A. Every day B. Oſten C. Sometimes D. Seldom or never A. Seldom or never B. Sometimes C. Oſten D. Every day CONT.
Transcript
http://rethinkdementia.ca
CAREGIVERS’ QUIZ
Support can build strength and resilience: building up your caregiver reserves (even if you’re not feeling overwhelmed today) can help you when the dementia journey becomes chaotic and challenging. Without good support, caregiver stress, anxiety, and depression can increase. This quiz has been developed to help caregivers understand where they are, and what kind of support might be helpful to them.
Take the quiz, and find out what the results might mean for you as a caregiver and what you might want to think about. Tip: Use the scorecard on page 4 to help keep track of your answers.
Remember, most caregivers have not been provided with adequate support options, so don’t feel stressed about being stressed – this is very common. There are people ready to help you in finding the right support for you and your family.
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How often do you get a good night’s sleep (seven or more hours)?
How often do you keep up with leisure activities that you enjoyed before caregiving?
How often do you feel irritable or lose your patience with others?
A. Every dayB. OftenC. SometimesD. Seldom or never
A. Every dayB. OftenC. SometimesD. Seldom or never
A. Seldom or never B. SometimesC. OftenD. Every day CONT.
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QUESTIONS (CONT.)
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How often do you feel irritable or lose your patience with the person you’re caregiving?
How often do you feel content?
How often do you find it difficult to concentrate?
How often do you lack the energy to cook, clean, and take care of everyday basic needs?
A. Seldom or never B. SometimesC. OftenD. Every day
A. Every dayB. OftenC. SometimesD. Seldom or never
A. Seldom or never B. SometimesC. OftenD. Every day
A. Seldom or never B. SometimesC. OftenD. Every day
CONT.
C8 How often do you feel hopeless about the future?
A. Seldom or never B. SometimesC. OftenD. Every day
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QUESTIONS (CONT.)
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How often are you able to relax without using alcohol, prescription sedatives or other substances?
How often do you feel overwhelmed by all you have to do?
A. Every dayB. OftenC. SometimesD. Seldom or never
A. Seldom or never B. SometimesC. OftenD. Every day
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How often has someone criticized your caregiving or suggested you’re burning out?
How often do you feel that someone is looking after or caring for you?
A. Seldom or never B. SometimesC. OftenD. Every day
A. Every dayB. OftenC. SometimesD. Seldom or never
Remember, most caregivers have not been provided with adequate support options, so don’t feel stressed about being stressed – this is very common.
http://rethinkdementia.ca
SCORECARD
QUESTION # A B C D
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Totals
Print this scorecard to help you track your answers. Once completed, review your results using the following pages.
Remember, most caregivers have not been provided with adequate support options, so don’t feel stressed about being stressed – this is very common.
http://rethinkdementia.ca
RESULTS
How did you score?Remember, this self-test is designed to help you in understanding how stressed you’re feeling, and what steps you can take – with support - to improve your wellbeing.
How you scored: What you can do: How we can help:
If you answered mostly “A”s:
Keep Building Your Reserves!Your heart and head are both in the right place, and your stress-busting reservoirs are full – you are able to take some time for yourself to refuel.
• Caregiver stress often creeps up without a caregiver realizing it. Give yourself time, even if you feel you don’t need it.
• Keep yourself well-fueled for caring -- at minimum, aim for several 5-minute blocks in the day where you do something for yourself, that gives you pleasure.
• Reach out to family and friends for help that will give you a break and keep your loved one engaged in activities they enjoy.
• Start to think about and explore what kinds of supports in the community would help you to get a break, for example, friendly visiting programs, and social activities for both yourself and your loved one. You can contact the Alzheimer Society of Cornwall & District, or The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County to get started. You may also be interested in exploring some of the community services available in your neighbourhood at www.caredove.com/champlaincss
If you answered mostly “B”s:
Invest in YourselfYou’re managing your stress reasonably well, but you may be falling into a common caregiver trap — putting yourself lower on the daily priority list. Everyone has an occasional crazy-busy day, but too many of them results in chronic stress — which erodes well-being and places you at risk for depression, colds, and other illnesses.
• Take as much time on your own as you can. And, give yourself a break from some scheduled activities when you can. Your rest is the top priority. Continue to communicate to your support system—letting it out to them is healthy.
• It’s okay to trust that others can care for your care recipient. Reach out to family and friends for help that will give you a break and keep your loved one engaged in activities they enjoy.
• It will be difficult to take the time you need for yourself, without having supports in place from your community. You can contact your local Alzheimer or Dementia Society to help you in planning out what will work best for your family.
• You may also benefit from attending caregiver support groups to share experiences with others who have been in your shoes, and it may be time for in-home or out-of-home respite services to support your loved one, depending on their needs.
http://rethinkdementia.ca
RESULTS
How did you score?Remember, this self-test is designed to help you in understanding how stressed you’re feeling, and what steps you can take – with support - to improve your wellbeing.
How you scored: What you can do: How we can help:
If you answered mostly “C”s and “D”s
Rejuvenation is NecessaryYour stress level is probably sky-high. You may already be experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, compromised immunity, and physical exhaustion. If you don’t look out for Number One, you won’t be able to help the person or persons in your care.
• It’s critical that you take steps immediately to lower your stress level, ideally through a combination of better self-care, a shared workload, and outlets for your complicated emotions, including talk therapy and support groups.
• It’s important that you contact your Alzheimer or Dementia Society immediately to get their help in putting plans in place to support your loved one so that that you can have time for yourself and the things that give you pleasure. You may also benefit from other therapies or from a break from caregiving that’s as short-term as a vacation or as permanent as a relocation of the person in your care.
• You may not feel ready to contact your local society right now, but it’s important that you talk to someone you trust -- a doctor, clergyperson, counselor, or therapist, for counseling -- and seek out medical assistance and immediate implement plans to re-charge.
Get started today:
To begin to learn more about some of the services in the community, see www.caredove.com/champlaincss
The Dementia Society of Ottawa & Renfrew County 613-523-4004Renfrew County: [email protected]
The Alzheimer Society of Cornwall & District613-932-4914Toll-free: [email protected]/en/cornwall
