5. Unit 5 Coping and Self-Care Review

Coping and self-care was the subject of unit 5. 

Here we looked at stress. We defined stress as the physical, mental and emotional human response to a particular stimulus - this response can be positive, or perhaps more likely negative. 

We then looked at the link between stress and carer burden. Carer burden was defined as the negative reaction to the impact of providing care on the caregiver's social, occupational and personal roles. 

We then outlined a number of ways you may like to try to manage stress. These included:

  • identify causes, these could include the carer's background (culture, income, skill level), changing relationships, loss of identity, family dynamics and increased decision making responsibilities. 
  • try to minimise stress by opening up to other family members, close friends or relatives about the challenges you are facing.
  • try to take a positive overview, remember the positive aspects of the caring relationship including what you have achieved, the sense of security, continuity and belonging you have provided in caring for the person with dementia. 
  • work in partnership with health care professionals - learn to communicate with other people or professionals who are providing care to your loved one. 
  •  take action to cope with the care situation you are faced with - here we outlined a number of coping strategies and we advocated that planful problem solving and positive reappraisal as probably being the two most beneficial to you.

We then looked at grief and loss. We suggested that these feelings are particularly complex in the context of dementia. We looked at some examples such as anticipatory grief and the emotions this engenders, and we outlined the importance of positivity and how music therapy can help play a therapeutic role for the person with dementia. 

As ever, you can re-read the full Book: Coping and Self-Care to get the full details.