{"id":44886,"date":"2013-11-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-06T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2013\/11\/06\/wellness-wednesday-november-is-caregiver-awareness-month\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T20:14:45","modified_gmt":"2022-09-03T01:14:45","slug":"wellness-wednesday-november-is-caregiver-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2013\/11\/06\/wellness-wednesday-november-is-caregiver-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellness Wednesday: November is Caregiver Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly 15 million Americans are caring for a loved one, and 40 percent of them are also working for an employer. Caregivers may find themselves with so many responsibilities, such as work, family, community and caring for a loved one, that they neglect to take care of themselves. The best thing to do for the person being cared for is to stay physically and emotionally strong.<\/p>\n

In recognition of National Caregiver Awareness Month, here’s how:<\/b><\/p>\n

See a doctor<\/b>
\nCaregivers should visit a physician regularly (at least annually) and listen to what their body is telling then. Exhaustion, stress, sleeplessness or changes in appetite or behavior should be taken seriously. Ignoring these symptoms can cause physical and mental health to decline.<\/p>\n

See sidebar to take a survey<\/a> on creating a support group for UNMC employees, faculty and students.<\/b><\/p>\n

If a person is caring for someone in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, they should talk to a health care provider about a seasonal flu shot. Being vaccinated protects the caretaker and the person he or she is caring for.<\/p>\n

Get Moving<\/b>
\nExercise is an important part of staying healthy — it can help relieve stress, prevent disease and make a person feel good. But finding the time to exercise is another story.<\/p>\n

There also are many ways to be active with the person with dementia. Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n