On National Caregivers Day, Channel 13 is putting a spotlight on family caregivers who provide countless hours of unpaid care for their loved ones.
The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health estimates there are 84,000 people providing unpaid care to someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia in Nevada.
With an increasing elderly population, the Centers for Disease Control reports the need for caregivers will grow exponentially by 2030.
Caregiving is a labor of love for Deborah Swapp. She cares for her husband Ron, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017. She says it’s a 24/7 job and it changes every day.
“He would be doing better if he could. That’s my mantra,” Deborah said.
In the years since Ron’s diagnosis, Deborah has become a skilled navigator in her changing world. She now wants to help new caregivers with the lessons she’s learned.
First: Deborah suggests showing up with good energy and not arguing with your loved one.
“You join them in their world. Period.”