Caring WITH versus TO

Changing Minds, Self-care with Rayna | 0 comments

Caregiving for a person with Alzheimer’s can be a challenging experience.

 
It requires compassion, patience, and understanding.  There are two approaches to caregiving: doing it with the person with Alzheimer’s or doing it to them.
Doing it with the person involves them in their care, treating them with respect, and promoting their independence.
Doing it to them means that the caregiver takes full control of the caregiving process without considering the person’s needs or preferences.
Caregiving with the person with Alzheimer’s is a more person-centered approach. It involves actively engaging the person in their care, empowering them to make decisions whenever possible, and encouraging their involvement in daily activities.
 
This approach emphasizes dignity and respect, allowing the person to maintain their sense of identity and self-worth.
 

By involving them, caregivers can help preserve their cognitive abilities and promote a sense of purpose, as they are actively participating in their own care.

In contrast, doing caregiving to a person with Alzheimer’s can lead to feelings of helplessness and frustration for the individual. Taking away their autonomy and making decisions for them without considering their wishes can be disempowering.
 
It is important to remember that individuals with Alzheimer’s still deserve to be treated as autonomous individuals as much and as long as possible.
 

By excluding them from the caregiving process, caregivers may unintentionally contribute to the person’s feelings of confusion and frustration.

 
Caregiving with the person with Alzheimer’s also helps build a stronger bond between the caregiver and the individual. It creates a sense of teamwork and fosters a deeper understanding of each other. Additionally, by involving the person in their care, the caregiver gains valuable insight into their preferences and needs, making it easier to meet them effectively.
 
 Ultimately, caregiving with the person with Alzheimer’s promotes a more positive and empowering experience. This not only enables individuals to preserve their sense of identity and autonomy, but also boosts their overall state of health and strengthens the bond between the caregiver and the person being cared for. By taking a person-centered approach, caregivers can help those with Alzheimer’s feel valued, respected, and supported throughout their caregiving journey.

As Alzheimer’s Educators our mission is to give you the skills, tools, and knowledge to be a caregiver with those you are caring for. Contact us today in order to learn more about what working together can look like.

Rayna Neises understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She is able to look back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for every woman caring for aging parents.

To help others through this challenging season of life, Rayna has written No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, a book filled with her own heart-warming stories and practical suggestions for journeying through a caregiving season. Rayna is an ICF Associate Certified Coach with certifications in both Life and Leadership Coaching from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute.

She is prepared to help you through your own season of caring. Learn more at ASeasonOfCaring.com and connect with Rayna on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Share your thoughts

Changing Minds