As a labor of love, friends or family members often voluntarily take on the role of caregiver.

But this can come at a cost to the individual providing care.

Less than half of these individuals reported receiving training for these tasks.

This kind of work can be stressful and demanding, especially for individuals who are inexperienced or unprepared.

When a loved one receives an Alzheimers diagnosis, it can be devastating.

Feelings of fear, sadness and anger at the circumstances are likely to bubble up.

Kristin Papa, LCSW

It is important to keep in mind that we all need support.

Research shows that depression and anxiety are common.

Then you’ve got the option to more easily avoid pain and frustration.

If a person with Alzheimer’s is saying Where am I?

I want to go home!

they might be trying to communicate that they don’t feel comfortable, Ozturk says.

Instead of getting frustrated and saying We are home!

try asking if they need something, are they too hot or too cold?

Are they hungry or tired?"

Its crucial to ask for help.

“It is important to keep in mind that we all need support,” saysKristin Papa, LCSW.

“Many of us have a hard time asking for help even when life is overflowing.

Support groupscan be incredibly helpful.

Assembling a strong care team and/or using respite services can reduce the burden of caregiving on a single individual.

“Often caregivers will wait until they are totally burnt out to ask for help,” Osterhoudt says.

“Don’t wait.

Reach out and get the help it’s crucial that you take care of yourself and the individual.”

To do this, practicing self-care is absolutely necessary.

“Even if it feels easy to be a caregiver now, slow down and pace yourself.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Even if it feels easy to be a caregiver now, slow down and pace yourself.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

Carving out time to rest, eat well and attend your own doctor’s appointments is just as important.

This could be through meaningful activities like gardening or listening to music.

“It is a very hard, messy and often thankless job,” Nickerson says.

“Remind yourself about why you are giving this gift and look for the bright spots.

Weller J, Budson A.Current understanding of Alzheimers disease diagnosis and treatment.F1000Res.

2018;7:1161. doi:10.12688/f1000research.14506.1

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.AP-NORC poll: Adult caregivers overwhelmed and undertrained.

Published October 5, 2017.

2017;22(11):1395-1405. doi:10.1080/13607863.2017.1370689