Did you know that 70% of those with dementia are cared for by loved ones at home? Approximately 50% of those caregivers will die before the person with dementia. According to Paula Spencer, senior editor of Caring.com, “Stress and burnout are the most common problems for those who care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.”

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Fact and Figures Report states, “In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care valued at $220.2 billion, which is nearly eight times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2012. More than 60% of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women. All caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s – both women and men – face a devastating toll. Due to the physical and emotional burden of caregiving, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers had $9.3 billion in additional health care costs of their own in 2013. Nearly 60% of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high, and more than one-third report symptoms of depression.”

This presentation will look at the red flags that indicate a dementia caregiver needs a break, how to tell if you are headed for burnout, and valuable methods and resources to help reduce stress and burnout.