November has the dual designation of being National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. This is appropriate since Alzheimer’s disease takes a huge toll on both the sufferer and their families. Having the role of caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a full-time and exhausting job. Often, caregiver syndrome, or CNN, presents with depression, anger, guilt, and deteriorating health. It’s important for caregivers to seek out respite care and other types of assistance to take some of the workload off of themselves. Caregivers need to take time for themselves every day. Their own mental, physical, and emotional health depends on it.

Key Takeaways:

• November is a month of awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and about those who care for loved ones who live with the disease.
• Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is a laborious endeavor, and caregivers often suffer from the mental and physical effects known as caregiver syndrome.
• To fight caregiver syndrome, understand what you’re getting into in providing care, but don’t hesitate to ask for help, recruit others for extraneous tasks, and take some time for yourself daily.

“Remember, just because you’re in charge of the daily mental, physical, and medical care of someone else doesn’t mean that you should set your own needs aside. There is no shame in stepping out for a moment to reclaim your sense of self.”