Recently Home Instead Senior Care in Sun City and Scottsdale was asked this question by a family caregiver, "I'm feeling so overwhelmed caring for my 85-year-old husband, who is suffering from dementia.  Is there any help out there for me?"

As a matter of fact, researchers from the University of Michigan have developed a new system that helps provide intervention to caregivers of patients with dementia.

"Although providing care can be rewarding, it often places caregivers at great risk for negative outcomes that also compromise the well-being of the patients with dementia," said Louis Burgio, a professor in the University of Michigan School of Social Work and research professor at the Institute of Gerontology.  Burgio was one of eight authors of a new study.

Researchers analyzed data from 642 dementia caregivers who provided in-home care. They were age 21 and older, lived with or shared cooking facilities with the patient, provided care at least four hours per day for at least six months, and reported distress.

The researchers identified 16 risks that are confronted most often with dementia caregivers like you as well as their care recipients.  A risk appraisal measure provides information that can help clinicians tailor interventions to a caregiver's individual needs.
 
Researchers assessed six domains linked to caregiver risk that could respond to intervention including depression, burden, self-care and health behaviors, social support, safety, and patient problem behaviors.

Intervention strategies for each domain were devised.  If a caregiver's primary problem was a feeling of extreme burden and stress, one treatment from a health care professional might involve the caregiver learning stress management techniques such as breathing exercises and stretching.

The screening form can be administered by any health care professional to the caregiver.  This test could help you find out where you can use the most assistance.

A stress assessment that you can take yourself, along with tips, also is available at www.caregiverstress.com.  In addition, why not consider respite care at home?  Home Instead CAREGivers are trained to work with seniors who are suffering from all types of conditions including dementia.  For just a few hours a week, you could have a welcome break from the stresses of caregiving.

(The report's other authors included Sara Czaja, University of Miami; Laura Gitlin, Thomas Jefferson University; Richard Schulz, University Center for Social and Urban Research; Song Zhang, University of Pittsburgh; Alan Stevens, Texas A&M Health Science Center; Linda Nichols, University of Tennessee; and Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, Stanford University.)

At the center of the campaign is the Cooking Under Pressure handbook that is available free through the local Home Instead Senior Care office.  A Web site at www.foodsforseniors.com provides additional information, research and resources.  

Local senior care expert Debbie Seplow, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Sun City, said that risks associated with conditions such as medication use and illness can negatively impact seniors' health and independence as they age.  "Good nutrition is, in fact, the first line of defense in helping to keep seniors healthy and independent," she said.

According to research, family caregivers are taking an active role in the lives of these seniors who need help, shopping and preparing meals for their older loved ones, which  could be contributing to that stress, Seplow said.  In the Home Instead Senior Care survey, 83 percent of family caregivers help with groceries or other errands; 65 percent assist with meal preparation.

Experts advise stressed-out family caregivers to get organized by creating a shopping list so their seniors regularly have healthy ingredients (see the 12 Staples Your Senior Shouldn't Live Without), collect interesting recipes and ensure their senior has the companionship they need to shop for groceries and make mealtimes enjoyable.

"Buy fresh ingredients and prepare meals with older adults, enticing them with what they like to eat.  Bring in new recipes and ingredients; we all get in a rut," said Dr. Nadine Sahyoun, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  

"Make eating a happy event," Dr. Sahyoun said.  "We focus too much on what people can't eat and don't give enough attention to what food represents to us.  Food is at the core of our lives' it's the smell, color, feel, texture and social context.  All of this is what makes a meal enjoyable.  We have to pay attention to those things," she added.

"If you're a family caregiver, I think it's really important not to act as the food police, watching and criticizing," said Elisabetta Politi, nutrition director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center at the Duke University Medical Center.  "Ask, "Is there anything I can do to help you?" Listen to seniors concerns.  Maybe you want to go with them to shop."

Home Instead Senior Care's Seplow said that companionship is one ingredient that family caregivers don't want to leave out of a senior's meal plan.  Companionship is vital to making mealtime more engaging for an older adult as well as in alleviating the strain on family caregivers. "So many seniors are alone or lonely.  If you can't be there to shop for groceries or eat with loved ones, consider a congregate meal site, such as a senior center, a meal delivery program or a paid companion to help encourage older adults to develop the kind of nutritional habits that will keep them healthy and give you peace of mind."

Read our Phoenix Home Health Care blog giving elder care tips and resources.

1,2,3.  The Boomer Project (www.boomerproject.com) completed online interviews with 1,279 U.S. adult caregivers, ages 35-62, with a parent, stepparent or older relative for whom they or someone in their household provides care.  Questions regarding nutritional risk factors and stress adapted from Abbott Laboratories' "Determine Your Nutritional Health" checklist.  Used with the permission of Abbott Laboratories, copyright 2008.