Don't Neglect Your Own Care

When I began caring for my elderly parents (both with early Alzheimer's, not properly diagnosed), I was shocked to read that family caregivers are often more depressed than those they care for. (And caregivers with a chronic illness have a 63 percent higher death rate than their peers of the same age.) A year into my caregiving duties, without a day off from my "challenging" elderly father--I was surprised the statistic was that low!

Additionally, caregivers of loved ones suffering with dementia are twice as likely to suffer depression than those providing care for non-dementia patients--and the deeper the dementia, the deeper the depression is likely to be. Since 5.2 million people in the United States are afflicted with Alzheimer's alone, and 7 out of 10 are cared for at home by family and friends who provide 75 to 80 percent of their care--millions of caregivers are suffering from depression or are at great risk of developing it.

Next: Overwelmed with responsibility