- With Mayo Clinic health education outreach coordinator
Angela Lunde
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Angela Lunde
Angela Lunde is a dementia education specialist in the education core of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Clinic in Rochester, Minn.The transfer of information about dementias, as well as understanding the need for participation in clinical trials, is an essential component of the education core.
Angela is a member of the of the Alzheimer's Association Program Services Advisory Council, co-chair of the Advanced Practice Professional Education track for the Minnesota State Dementia Conference, and a member of D-BART (Dementia-Behavioral Assessment and Response Team), a multidisciplinary outreach service assisting professional and family caregivers in understanding and managing difficult behaviors often present in dementia.
Angela takes a personal interest in understanding the complex changes that take place within relationships and among families when dementia is present. She is particularly interested in providing innovative and accessible ways for people with dementia and their families to receive information and participate in valuable programs.
"Amid a devastating disease there are tools, therapies, programs, and ways to cope, it is vital that families are connected to these resources," she said.
Latest entries
- Don't believe the hype about Alzheimer's cures
June 12, 2009
- TV series lifts curtain on Alzheimer's
May 19, 2009
- Making the move to a care facility
April 21, 2009
- Improving life one story at a time
March 19, 2009
- Taking care of the caregiver
Feb. 3, 2009
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Alzheimer's blog
-
Dec. 11, 2007
Depression common among caregivers
By Angela Lunde
I am frustrated, full of anger. Sometimes I lose my temper and blow. Then I feel guilty. Even when I don't lose my temper, I feel guilty. I am grouchy. I have lost a sense of who I am these days. I grieve. I am sad and I cry, uncontrollable at times. I do not sleep well. I am lonely and I am fearful. Who am I?
I am the spouse of someone with Alzheimer's.
Does this resonate with you? For some of you, I know it does.
Think about it, many of you 'work' as a caregiver 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. And even if caregiving is something you think you do reasonably well, it can be hard to find satisfaction as a caregiver when your loved one's condition only declines. It is difficult to feel good about yourself when everything around you is unpredictable and unreal. It is tough to feel happy when you can no longer find the time to do the things you enjoy and that bring meaning to your life.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 80 percent of Alzheimer caregivers report that they frequently experience high levels of stress, and nearly half say they suffer from depression. It's not difficult to see why.
All of us certainly experience negative feelings from time to time. But according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, "when these feelings become more intense and leave caregivers totally drained of energy, crying frequently or easily angered by their loved one or other people, it may well be a warning sign of depression."
Many of you have written on this blog and shared concerns about yourself, or expressed support to others related to the challenges of caregiving. I want to offer my genuine appreciation. Circles of support, of all kinds, are incredibly valuable. If you have signs of depression, I hope you seek the medical attention you need.
Depression amongst Alzheimer's caregivers is more common than most of us realize and deserves to be treated with the same attention afforded any other illness.
34 comments posted