Learn about the challenges faced by caregivers for dementia patients and some creative ideas for offering support.
In this episode I welcome back my recurring guest Barbara Karnes, hospice nurse, speaker, thought leader, and expert on end-of-life care. She is the author of the “little blue hospice book” Gone From My Sight and her most recent book By Your Side: A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home. We discuss the challenges of caring for a person with dementia and the impact that care can have on family members. Learn more about Barbara’s work at her website:
This episode includes:
There are now over 7 million people with dementia in the USDementia patients require twice as many hours of care as other patientsThe late stage of dementia can last 1-2 years; patients are eligible for hospice care during the last 6 monthsHow the last stage of life for dementia patients differs from that of other end-of-life patientsWhy caregivers for dementia patients are much more likely to suffer exhaustion and depressionA marker to use for determining when a dementia patient is eligible for hospiceWhy it’s essential to create an advance directive early in the course of dementia while the patient can make decisionsThe need for “dementia doulas” to guide and assist caregiversWhat happens when a caregiver can no longer take care of their loved one at homeHow some financial planners are doing a better job talking to their clients about preparing for healthcare needs than medical providers are doingSimple tips to help caregivers in the momentLinks mentioned in this episode:
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