Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can increase your stress and anxiety levels and sap your strength if you let it. Learn how to protect yourself.

By: Dennis Thompson, Jr. (Medically Reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD)

Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease is a tough job, and the stress and strain that come with it can take a heavy toll on caregivers.  However, caregiver burnout is something that can be predicted and dealt with before it causes harm to you or affects your loved one.

“One of the most important things for caregivers is that they take care of themselves and connect with others,” says Peter Reed, PhD, senior director of programs for the Alzheimer’s Association.  “It’s important caregivers realize they’re not going to be successful as a caregiver if they are tired.  Instead of feeling guilty, they should be glad to take care of their well-being so they can take better care of their loved one.”

The Alzheimer’s Caregiver: Recognizing Burnout

The following list includes common warning signs of caregiver burnout:

• Denial about the effect Alzheimer’s will have on your loved on over time
• Anger and irritability that flares regularly and without warning
• Withdrawal from friends, family, and enjoyable pastimes
• Anxiety over the future
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Lack of sleep or insomnia caused by stress
• Loss of focus and concentration
• Recurring health problems that begin to take a toll on your mental and physical well-being

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*Family Alliance hosts caregiver support groups three times a month to help caregivers understand that other families are in similar situations, to listen to their frustrations and give helpful advice on how to cope, and how to recognize when they might be heading for a burnout.