Reducing Caregiver Burnout

caregiving burn outPauline and Bert have been married for 65 years. They live in a small house in Beaverton where they raised their children and know all the neighbors. About 5 years ago Pauline started developing memory problems that were gradually getting worse and worse. Bert has been her caregiver and assuming more of the daily tasks around the house and helping her with her personal care needs. Bert is exhausted and his health is starting to deteriorate. He recently spent a few days in the hospital due to the stress of being her caregiver. That’s common for family caregivers, they’re so busy taking care of their loved ones that their own health declines faster than those they’re caring for. Bert’s family recognized his stress and exhaustion so called me to help find a place for Pauline to live…

In the past Pauline has walked out the front door looking for Bert and wandered down the street. As such she’s considered an elopement risk in assisted living so we looked for a secure memory care building for her. Bert wanted to be able to visit her daily so the memory care had to be near their house. They have long term care insurance so we had to find a place that is accredited and works with long term care insurance companies.

zeth@greatnessdigital.com October 22, 2015

Moving Into an Adult Foster Care Home Allows Wife to Go From Family Caregiver to Spouse Again

Mary’s husband John had early onset Alzheimer’s. Mary still worked full time so she hired caregivers to come a few hours each day to ensure he had meals and was safe while she was gone. When she got home from work she had to fix dinner, help him shower, clean the mess he made throughout the day, get his medications and meals ready for the next day, do laundry as he often had accidents. Mary heard him get up several times during the night which interrupted her sleep. Realistically she knew he was just going to get worse but she had hope that he would at least stabilize. He wasn’t improving, unfortunately he was definitely getting worse. Mary knew she couldn’t continue to work full time and worry all day about his safety. She couldn’t afford to pay for caregivers to be with him the whole time he was at work yet she couldn’t afford not to. Mary was exhausted emotionally and physically. She couldn’t do it anymore and turned to Right Fit Senior Living Solutions for help…

We met with both of them to determine their ideal situation. She wanted him to live in an adult foster care home in nearby Tualatin so she could visit him on her way home from work in Portland. She liked the idea of an adult foster care home as there would be four other seniors living with a private family who is very experienced with being caregivers and working with people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. He would get a lot of personal attention in a quiet, calm and safe home. She liked that their food is all made from scratch and that they would manage his medications, do his laundry and help him shower.