Monthly Archives: March 2013

Here’s a short blog post about the sense of isolation that many
caregivers feel.  The author, a psychologist and social worker, offers some suggestions on how to overcome caregiver isolation.

Certainly these tips apply to us all — whether we are caregivers or care recipients.

Robin

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caregiversos.org/isolation-the-pain-of-the-caregivers-soul-by-jamie-huysman-psyd-lcsw-cap-cft/

Isolation: the Pain of the Caregiver’s Soul
by Jamie Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, CAP, CFT
Caregiver SOS Blog
by WellMed Foundation

A recent AARP Magazine survey revealed that more Americans feel lonely today than they did a decade ago, and older Americans are particularly at risk. In fact, 44 million adults over the age of 45 suffer from chronic loneliness. We could factor in that as we grow older it’s “normal” to deal with grief, depression, medical challenges and loss of energy if we do not remain active.

I don’t agree with that. I think that very possibly the common
denominator most suspect in these tragic numbers might be that it’s “caregiving time.”

The number of caregivers in this world is staggering. At last count it was well over 64 million people in our general population. Of course, we do not see this pandemic because so many are hiding in their homes or detached and traumatized–watching the world go by.

A variety of studies has shown that there is a definite link as well between loneliness and diabetes, sleep disorders, compromised immunological system. There is even some speculation that loneliness can play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.

So much happens to us when we are lonely. Our self esteem suffers so we eat more unhealthy foods more often. Nutrition can be a factor in shaping our state of mind. Sleep becomes a problem as isolation and depression can keep us up at night; and lack of sleep exacerbates almost all medical conditions.

It follows a logical destructive pattern. You’re lonely so you eat. You gain weight and put yourself at risk for diabetes. You can’t sleep in part because of depression. When you’re caregiving, it’s likely that you’re up and down several times a night to check on or assist your loved one–and your immune system suffers.

So what can you do when you find yourself at this crossroads?

Join a support group today. The impact on us around education and dealing with the loneliness is better than any call you could make right now.

1.  Reach out and get in touch with those friends you haven’t
connected with in a while. Get past all that and force yourself to
make those calls to people, places and organizations that make you feel comfortable. Introduce yourself and have a cup of tea with individuals most responsive to you.

2.  Some of the best friendships I have seen blossom have evolved when one of the friends was a caregiver.

3.  Reach out and help someone. Once a month, do something for someone who’s in a situation more difficult than yours.

Caregiving and loneliness can go hand in hand. Refuse to accept this isolation as your fate. Reclaim some power here. When you think of loneliness as a temporary state, you can do something about it.  Make the effort. You are worth it!  And the good thing about reaching out to others is that when you do, they will reach back.

The “New Old Age: Caring and Coping” blog of the New York Times has been covering the “Choosing Wisely” campaign.  This campaign is an attempt to provide laypeople and doctors with a list of tests to avoid.  Each medical specialty has been asked to develop a list of “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question.”  Lists from the American Geriatrics Society and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine were published last week on the “Choosing Wisely” website (choosingwisely.org).

AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY LIST

Here’s the American Geriatrics Society list:  (see the webpage for a few more sentences on each item)

www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/american-geriatrics-society/

1.  Don’t recommend percutaneous feeding tubes in patients with
advanced dementia; instead offer oral assisted feeding.

2.  Don’t use antipsychotics as first choice to treat behavioral and
psychological symptoms of dementia.

3.  Avoid using medications to achieve hemoglobin A1c <7.5% in most adults age 65 and older; moderate control is generally better.

4.  Don’t use benzodiazepines or other sedative-hypnotics in older
adults as first choice for insomnia, agitation or delirium.

5.  Don’t use antimicrobials to treat bacteriuria in older adults
unless specific urinary tract symptoms are present.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

1.  Don’t recommend percutaneous feeding tubes in patients with
advanced dementia; instead, offer oral assisted feeding.

2.  Don’t delay palliative care for a patient with serious illness who has physical, psychological, social or spiritual distress because they are pursuing disease-directed treatment.

3.  Don’t leave an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
activated when it is inconsistent with the patient/family goals of
care.

4.  Don’t recommend more than a single fraction of palliative
radiation for an uncomplicated painful bone metastasis.

5.  Don’t use topical lorazepam (Ativan), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), haloperidol (Haldol) (“ABH”) gel for nausea.

And here’s a link to the “New Old Age: Caring and Coping” blog post about these two lists:

newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/for-the-elderly-lists-of-tests-to-avoid/

The New Old Age: Caring and Coping
Health Care
For the Elderly, Lists of Tests to Avoid
New York Times
By Paula Span
February 28, 2013, 6:54 am

Robin