How to help caregivers of patients with dementia
02/14/25 at 03:00 AM
How to help caregivers of patients with dementia
Physician's Weekly; by Linda Girgis, MD, FAAP; 2/13/25
Dr. Linda Girgis discusses how physicians can assist caregivers of patients with dementia, helping these critical caretakers avoid experiencing burnout. ... As doctors, we all have witnessed caregiver burnout. Often, it was a family member who bore the brunt of the responsibility, one for whom there were no vacation days or sick time available. Whatever specialty we practice, we know patients with dementia can present a significant problem. ... How can we assist caregivers of patients with dementia?
- Diagnose them early. ...
- Listen to the patients. ...
- Arrange visiting nursing service. ...
- Arrange hospice. ...
- Discuss options such as adult daycare and respite care. ...
- Prescribe meds for behavioral issues. ...
- Be empathatic. ...