“Dementia is one of the world’s fastest growing diseases, with 24 million people currently diagnosed and that number expected to jump to 84 million by 2040,” says Larry Prescott, executive director of Grand Villa.
According to a March 2012 report from the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for a person with dementia, with most of them being family caring for an aging parent or loved one. Although rewarding, it can often be quite stressful. Studies have shown, for example, that caring for someone with a brain-impairing disorder can be more stressful than caring for someone with a physical impairment.
“This is why it is important for caregivers to find time to take a break from their responsibilities to recharge both physically and emotionally,”
Support is also important, adds Prescott. Help from other family members, friends and even community agencies can be an invaluable tool to help caregivers continue to provide adequate care. It may also be a good idea to seek out caregiver support groups.
“Families have to do what is best for them, whether that is caring for their loved ones at home or considering an assisted living community,” says Prescott. “While an assisted living facility is common for individuals in the later stages of dementia, every family has to approach the caregiving experience in a way that works best for them.”
About Grand Villa of Largo
Grand Villa of Largo (http://www.largoseniorliving.com)
About Senior Management Advisors, Inc.
Senior Management Advisors (SMA) (www.seniormanagementadvisors.com)
