Prolonged stress without relief

Press, 10 February 1986, Page 8

Prolonged stress without relief

The relative at home caring for an elderly or disabled person may well be prone to prolonged stress level. The Supervising Social Worker at Christchurch Hospital, Miss Beverley Hill, says there is often an unspoken societal pressure for a relative, in most cases a female, to be “the carer” and that this attitude is also taken by some hospital staff and other members of the person’s family. “If the person suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease, 24 hour supervision is necessary and it creates a high level of stress for the carer because the relative cannot remember, or obey commands, attend to personal hygiene and may become aggressive. The carer may become physically and emotlally exhausted,” she says. The continual demand on the carer of a person who cannot be left alone can cause social isolation. Friends no longer visit, and it is often easier not to cope with the hassle of taking the relative out and, as well, there is no time for the pursuit of interests and hobbies and sometimes even a loss of income.

She urges health professionals involved with carers to inform them of the support services available in the community — health support services, day care centres, sitter service, community groups and Department of Social Welfare Relief of Care Scheme. The carers need to be encouraged to approach the situation as objectively as possible and assisted to take “time out” to pursue their own hob-

bies and interests to help alleviate stress. Psychologist John Dugdale emphasises that some degree of stress is essential to all aspects of daily living. . “Absence of stress is death,” he quotes, and says it is the managing of stress that is important. He says that managing stress involves first, recognition of stress and identifying the causes. Causes may be divided into three groups — those

we cannot change such as death of a family mem- . ber, those which can be ' controlled by major life ' change such as change of job, and those which in- ' volve factors within our . control. ; Talking and comparing notes with others, relaxation training, separating. . work and personal life, having adequate nutrition . and sleep, learning how to ■ laugh again, seeking ad- ' vice — all help in coping •, with stress. j