Editor’s note: In this guest post, Anna Preston, a consultant with Live-In Care Hub, a UK non-profit organization, discusses the needs of caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients and provides resources these caregivers can access to get the support they may need.
By Anna Preston (Live-In Care Hub, a UK non-profit)
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are more than 670,000 people in the UK [according to the CDC, 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease] who are caring for people with dementia and these are mostly unpaid, caring for relatives or friends. And while this saves, at the last count in 2014, some £11 billion per annum, the emotional and physical toll on carers is largely unrecorded.
Many dementia patients are cared for through in home care services with professional care staff who receive professional support and training. However, some are dependent on family members or friends who can easily become overwhelmed by the onerous task of caring 24/7 for a person with dementia. There’s no doubt that caring for a dementia patient takes a huge amount of dedication, time and effort whether you’re a professional carer or not and the emotional burden can weigh heavy on you. That’s why you should do everything you can to obtain support and help from friends, family and professional colleagues.
