Lewy Body Dementia: The Impact on Care Partners

Taking care of a loved one who suffers from Lewy Body Dementia is a selfless act that enables the patient’s life to continue with dignity and honor. However, offering this type of care can be immensely taxing — physically, emotionally, and financially. It’s also a thankless task that places caregivers in the path of multiple roadblocks and obstacles. Here, we highlight some of the main burdens that caregivers shoulder and some ways Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center can help lighten the load. 

Caregiver Grief

Lewy Body Dementia affects the mental and physical capacities of those it afflicts. Its impact on cognitive, motor, and behavioral functions creates a challenging situation, leaving spouses, children, or siblings to step in and provide support with little or no knowledge of what they are taking on. The diagnosis is often sudden, and deterioration can be swift. Care partners rarely have time to process the diagnosis and must dive right in to caregiving responsibilities. 

In this stressful, sad situation, care partners may feel like they need to power through and be strong for the whole family. In addition, the caregiver must adapt immediately to a new way of life, all while ensuring their mother, father, sibling, spouse, and/or friend is safe and well-looked after. 

Access to Care 

Because LBD is frequently misdiagnosed, patients may not receive proper care from the get-go. Caregivers are then tasked with researching symptoms, treatments, and therapies for their loved one. This places a lot of responsibility in the care partner’s lap, as they must now determine how to manage unpredictable symptoms, including impaired thinking, hallucinations, depression, and more. Accessing reliable medical care is especially difficult in rural areas and caregivers in these parts of the country shoulder a very heavy burden. 

Financial Burden

In-home care will take on the trappings of a full-time job. For those who can’t afford to sacrifice their daily schedule to assisting, opting to hire in-home aides is an option. However, this route can be costly and may cause additional stress on the person suffering from Lewy Body Dementia. Many caregivers opt to provide help themselves, taking on the time and monetary commitment. 

While a significant amount of time and attention is devoted to learning more about Lewy Body Dementia, fewer resources are directed to supporting and helping care partners. Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center is committed to offering steadfast support for families of those suffering with LBD in the hope of easing the caregiver burden. 

We know firsthand what it’s like to watch over a loved one who has Lewy Body Dementia. That’s why we’ve curated our website to offer a plethora of online resources for caregivers, including a helpline that’s available 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Give us a call or browse our numerous articles for help, support, and understanding throughout the caregiving process.