Heart palpitations in the dark: Elisabeth's fight for her husband, who suffers from dementia

Heart palpitations in the dark: Elisabeth's fight for her husband, who suffers from dementia

Elisabeth Meier lives in a large apartment in Cologne and in recent years has dealt with a challenge that affects many people: her husband's dementia. The gradual onset of the disease when he was in his mid-80s brought about a series of changes that greatly affected not only his life, but also hers. The BRK's home emergency number gives her a feeling of security during this difficult time. This is how she describes the daily fear that she feels, especially when the phone rings in the evening - because then she often worries about her husband, who was taken to a nursing home after suffering a fall. This decision weighs heavily on her because she often feels guilty about “pushing him away,” even though she visits him regularly.

Her husband's dementia led to Elisabeth taking on increasing responsibility. She remembers how often he talked about the past while other things were forgotten. “I’m grateful that he still recognizes me and plays rummy with me,” she says. Nevertheless, the emotional burden on caring relatives is high, and many feel overwhelmed by the situation, as the website Gesund.bund.de reports.

Help for caring relatives

Support for family members of people with dementia is crucial. Loud healthy.bund.de There are numerous offers of help. These include advice centers and self-help groups, which can have a relieving effect. The German Alzheimer Society e.V. offers a first point of contact for questions about dementia via the Alzheimer's telephone. The Federal Ministry of Health's citizen hotline can also be reached for urgently needed information.

In Germany, around 440,000 people suffer from dementia every year, and around two thirds are cared for at home by relatives pflege.de explained. The emotional and physical stress that comes with caring for someone with dementia is enormous. It is therefore advisable to take advantage of offers of help early on and to find out about the various forms of support. A free care center search can help you find the right support.

Advice and financial support

Care can be relieved financially if an application for the level of care is submitted to the care insurance fund. Relevant information and advice centers are available and can offer important tips, as Elisabeth found out herself. “I sought help from the specialist care center and found encouragement there,” she adds. This comprehensive support is important in order to give the caring relatives a good handle on the health and emotional challenges.

Overall, it can be seen that exchange in self-help groups, information about nursing care insurance benefits and the use of institutions that provide help are of great importance for relatives. This is the only way they can better cope with the challenges caused by their loved ones' dementia and not lose sight of themselves.