1. Take Care of Yourself
   During the pandemic, it's vital that caregivers of people with dementia safeguard their own health. Follow all CDC recommendations inside and outside the home: Stay six feet from others, wash your hands frequently with soap and water and keep them away from your face, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home, including mobility and medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and grab bars) that your relative uses. Establish a backup caregiving plan in case you get sick.
2. Finesse Frustration 
   Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease can be exasperating under normal circumstances, but these days negative emotions can get out of hand. "You need to remind yourself that you're doing the best you can, and so is your loved one," says Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, author, with his wife, Julia L. Mayer, PsyD, of AARP Meditations for Caregivers (Da Capo Press, 2016). Be as empathetic and understanding as possible and try not to lose your temper. "Your relative probably won't remember your outburst, but you will never forget it," says David German, whose wife, Linda, is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's. When tensions rise, he walks away and vents in another room.
3. Protect Your Mental Health
   The emotional well-being of caregivers is an important focus in dementia care, says Beau M. Ances, MD, PhD, FAAN, endowed professor of neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. Devote attention to yourself by using your loved one's nap time to meditate, do yoga, write in a journal, listen to music, or talk to a friend. Meditation and calming exercises are available on apps like Calm, Happify, Zen, Headspace, and Stop, Breathe & Think. "It's important to realize you aren't alone," adds Dr. Ances, who urges caregivers to access local resources for finding health aides, adult day care programs, or respite care. "Your community can help in a variety of ways." Before the pandemic, David German relied on one of his wife's friends for help taking care of her. "You can't do it all by yourself," he says. "You need to ask for assistance from family and friends."
4. Look for Signs of Depression

The physical and psychological toll of caregiving may lead to depression. Common symptoms include a change in eating habits or sleep patterns, feeling tired, a loss of interest in people or activities, agitation, anger, and thoughts of death or suicide. If you're depressed, reach out to a professional for guidance, says Sudha Seshadri, MD, FAAN, director of the Glenn Biggs Institute at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio. "If you're feeling overwhelmed and need a few nights off, talk to a social worker about respite care options." After German's wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014, he joined a support group sponsored by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.