Navigating the Impact of Vascular Dementia on Families

The silent prayer or wish many people have when they see their loved one aging is for them to age gracefully without any health issues or complications. That’s why the news that their loved one has vascular dementia, a condition associated with a stroke or a series of strokes that damages the part of the brain responsible for learning, memory, and language, can be tough to accept.

The challenge with this condition is that it affects the patients and their families, mainly the caregivers. This article will discuss the emotional impact of vascular dementia on families and how to navigate them.

Stress and Frustration

Caring for a person with dementia can be demanding since they usually need help to do every task. This can bring emotional challenges to families. It is not easy for someone to see their loved ones losing their memories and cognitive ability, and yet they cannot do anything to reverse the situation. The feeling of helplessness and frustration can depress the caregiver.

If the caregiver feels too frustrated, they will not be in the right mind to give their loved one the best care and attention. Therefore, they should look for reliable options like vascular dementia caregiving facilities. These facilities help families with dementia patients by offering the best care, assisted living, and rehabilitation. 

Boredom

Caregivers usually get bored when stuck in one place the entire day taking care of the person with dementia. Being a full-time caregiver means one might not have the time to do what they want or need and, therefore, will not feel fulfilled. By the end of the day, they will feel too tired and emotionally drained to pursue the things they value.

The best way for a family member to tackle these challenges is to take time out of the care duty to do things they enjoy. They can ask another member to step in or engage an in-house care professional during their free time. This will allow them to socialize and do their favorite things. This will make them feel more energetic and ready to care for their loved ones when they resume duties.

Anxiety

Anxiety is another common challenge that caregivers face when dealing with patients with dementia. This is likely to occur when the patients start having behavioral changes like mood swings and aggression. Anxiety could lead to issues such as tense muscles and insomnia, which can lead to health complications for the caregiver. 

Caregivers can navigate such issues by writing down a list of their worries and trying to figure out the best way to address them. They can also talk to the patient’s doctor to learn more about the disease and ways to manage the anxiety they experience. In addition, they can connect with other caregivers’ support group forums to have a chance to interact with and learn from others.

People caring for patients with vascular dementia should pay attention to their health and well-being. They can do this by learning the best ways to deal with stress, depression, anxiety, and boredom before they face these problems. This reduces the risk of being overwhelmed with caregiving tasks, which could lead to burnout.

Caregivers should also learn more about dementia to understand the condition and how to improve the lives of the patients they are caring for. This knowledge can improve the life of the person with dementia and that of the caregiver.