Five tips for Alzheimer’s caregivers
COURIER LIFE, SEPT. 20-26, 2019 35
BY RIMAS JASIN
AND JUDY ZANGWILL
There are an estimated 425,000
caregivers in New York City
helping family members with
Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
If you are an Alzheimer’s
caregiver, we salute you for
all you do. Here are fi ve tips
to make a diffi cult job a little
easier:
Plan for the future
During the early stages of
the disease, it’s important to
make provisions for the later
stages. This is the best time to
talk with your loved one about
his or her wishes regarding
medical care decisions and
estate planning. The discussion
may be diffi cult and emotionally
fraught, but it will be
helpful in the long term. Start
by working with your family
member to draft documents
known as advance directives.
One, known as a living
will, outlines what kind of
life-prolonging medical treatment
the family member will
want to receive when he or
she becomes terminally ill
or permanently unconscious.
Another, called a healthcare
proxy, designates another person
to make health care decisions
when the family member
is no longer able to do so. The
early stages of the disease is
also the best time to help your
loved one with fi nancial planning,
which includes drafting
a will and making sure that
all necessary insurance is in
order.
Also, during the early
stages, talk with your family
member’s doctor about
a plan of action for medical
care. This is also a good time
to communicate with friends
and more distant family members
about your loved one’s
diagnosis. Some may want to
make plans to visit the loved
one during the early stages.
Others may volunteer to help
with caregiving.
Get organized
That means doing all you
need to do to follow the doctor’s
plan of action, such as keeping
a list of medications handy
and keeping track of the family
member’s dietary needs.
Prepare a document listing all
the important details so that
friends, family members, or
aides know what to do if they
pitch in as caregivers. Consider
keeping a journal to document
your family member’s
changes over time.
Remember you’re
not alone
Support is available, and
you don’t have to do all the
caregiving by yourself. Presbyterian
Senior Services and
Sunnyside Community Services
are multi-service nonprofi
t organizations in New
York City that provide comprehensive
services to Alzheimer’s
caregivers, including
respite services, long-term
care planning, peer support
groups, counseling services,
caregiver skills training, and
transportation for medical appointments
and shopping. Social
service agencies in cities
and towns nationwide provide
a range of support services.
Take care of
yourself
Don’t neglect your own
health while caring for a family
member; you can provide
the best care only when you’re
in good health yourself. That
means keeping your medical
appointments, exercising, and
maintaining a healthy diet.
Recognize that caregiving is
emotionally taxing, so take
steps to avoid burnout: Take a
break and make time for yourself.
Call a friend and go out on
occasion.
Give yourself credit
for the tough job
you’re doing
Don’t discount the importance
of your caregiver role.
When you seek out help, don’t
lose sight of your role as a
partner with the professionals
in providing care to your
loved one. You are making a
positive difference in the life
of someone you love, and even
if he or she can’t always express
appreciation, know that
you are a hero.
Rimas Jasin is the executive
director of Presbyterian Senior
Services. Judy Zangwill is the
executive director of Sunnyside
Community Services.
Wellness
When you’re caring for a loved one
with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to
take care of yourself as well.
About 700,000 people
in America suffer from
strokes each year, says
Nurse Practitioner Eleanora
Iadgarova, of The
Vascular Institute of New
York. “If people spent
some time on prevention,
that number would decrease
dramatically.”
It is imperative to take
simple measures now to
avoid complicated treatment
in the future.
The Nurse Practitioner
needs just three hours
of your time, once a year,
for screening.
“We are all busy,” she
says, “But putting aside
three hours to ensure
good health is something
we can do.”
Within that timeframe,
she will provide
an examination, sonogram,
lab test, diagnosis,
and treatment plan, all on
the same day, right on the
premises. You’ll walk out
the door with the information
you need to stay
healthy. Prevention can
be that easy.
Anyone age 60 and
older should come in annually
to have the carotid
arteries in the neck
checked, as weakened
ateries can lead to arteriosclerosis,
which means
plaques blocking carotid
arteries — and the first
symptoms can be a stroke.
If members of your family
have suffered from
strokes, or if there is a
history of diabetes or high
blood pressure, this puts
you at a higher risk.
“Know your family
history,” says Iadgarova.
“Genetics is the most important
factor.”
Aneurysms are not restricted
to the head. They
can also incur in the abdomen.
In fact, the aorta
is the largest artery in the
body that carries blood
from the heart to the rest
of the body. If there is an
aneurysm in this area, it
can rupture, leading to internal
bleeding.
“It’s a silent killer,”
says Iadgarova. “You often
don’t know you have
it.”
But a sonogram once a
year can provide insight,
and quite possibly save
a life. People 65 or older
should be screened each
year.
Wound care is another
area in which Iadgarova
is trained. She doesn’t just
treat the surface; she finds
the cause of the problem.
For example, if there is a
leg wound, it may be because
of poor circulation,
or it can be caused by diabetes.
Once the cause is
established, the best treatment
plan can be determined,
she says.
Vascular care also
means looking at varicose
veins — often distinguished
by their blue
color, or the twisted, bulging
appearance on legs.
This condition is more
common among women,
and can be quite painful,
bringing on a burning
sensation or a feeling
of heaviness. They can
also cause night cramps.
A family history also
makes one susceptible, as
can obesity, smoking, and
standing for long periods
of time. The Vascular Institute
of New York — a
state-of-the-art facility —
uses the most advanced
treatments available.
Iadgarova has been
working with esteemed
Dr. Enrico Ascher of The
Vascular Institute for 20
years, and has been a registered
nurse since 2000.
She recently became a
nurse practitioner, which
means she can diagnose
and treat patients independently.
Patients welcome
her in this new role,
as Iadgarova is known for
her warm bedside manner.
Fluent in English
and Russian, she is able to
communicate with many
people.
Make an appointment
to see her.
Vascular Institute of
New York 960 50th St. between
Ninth and 10th avenues
in Borough Park,
(718) 438–3800, www.vascularnyc.
com. Nurse Practitioner
Iadgarova is available
Sundays through Fridays, 9
am– 6 pm, by appointment.
The Vascular Institute is
open Mondays through Fridays,
8 am–6 pm; Saturdays
and Sundays, 8 am–1 pm.
Most major insurance plans
are accepted.
BUS I N E S S , B ROOK LYN S T Y LE – A DV E RTI S E M E NT
Taking simple measures now can prevent stroke later
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