Question

Briefly describe how you would monitor your own stress level in relation to working with people with dementia. (Approx. 50 words).

Answer 1

Dementia :

A progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal ageing.The main areas of decline are memory, judgement, attention , language , problem solving .

Monitoring self stress level in relation to working with people with Dementia:

Stress is an emotional pressure suffered by a human being . Care givers especially Dementia care givers used to face a  high level of stress in their day to day Care giving task. Many reports indicates that Dementia care giving is the most stressful care giving and many of them are suffering with Depression as a result of Stress from the type job , they are doing. It is important for a Care giver to identify and monitor her stress level and learn to cope up with it in a healthy way.

Self monitoring of stress level:

Care giver can monitor his/ her own stress level, while working with people with Dementia. First step in monitoring the stress level is to identify the signs of care giver stress. The signs are:

* Feeling often unnecessary tiredness

* Feeling constantly worried

* Easily getting irritated or angry feeling

* Not enough sleep or too much sleep.

* No interest in activities, that the person  used to enjoy previously

* Abuse of alcohol and or drugs, smoking

* Frequent physical problems, pains or aches

* Feeling sadness unnecessarily .

Through identifying the symptoms one can understand the severity of his or her own stress.  

Perceived Stress Scale ( PSS) : It is the classic stress scale to monitor the level of our own percieved stress. Use PSS and monitor the stress level.  

0- 13: low stress

14- 26 moderate stress

27 - 40 high level of perceived stress.

After monitoring the level apply or implement various stress management techniques to the day to day Life and get rid of the unnecessary stress, for the well being of care giver , so that it may result in quality care of the patient .

( other Stress monitoring scale for self assessment are The Ardell Wellness stress test, Stress copying resources inventory).