“Everyone and everything that I love will change, and I will be separated from them.” ........ Buddha
“We may intellectually know that all things change, yet we desperately deny this truth; a denial that leads to anxiety, fear and confusion.”
A national holiday for remembering and honoring people who died while serving in the military, Memorial Day has become a day of remembrance of relatives, loved ones, comrades and friends; a day to visit graves, to honor the memory of loved ones, and show his/her life is not forgotten. As Memorial Day approaches however, many of the loved ones and patients we care for can experience anxiety, fear and confusion. For older seniors, veterans and the elderly Memorial Day can trigger symptoms and signs of dissociative disorder. “Dissociation is the process through which individuals experience a disruption of discontinuity in one or several aspects of their psychological functioning. The affected functions typically include memory, perception, consciousness, identity and motor control.”
It’s estimated only 2% of people are diagnosed with dissociative disorder, however, 50% of adults experience at least one derealization episode in their lifetime. In the older, senior and veteran populations, particularly those diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or psychological disorder, a disconnection between thoughts and memory can be brought-on by the significance of Memorial Day. Recent studies “demonstrated that the level of dissociation was significantly high in service- men/women with combat - related PTSD. In addition, combat-exposed subjects without PTSD had higher dissociation levels than healthy subjects without combat experiences.”
Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide, feeling detached from thoughts, and a numbing to emotions can be symptoms of dissociative disorder. Recalling those who have gone before them, military friends and comrades who died in battle, or experiencing PTSD can trigger suppressed memories locked in the back of the brain. Memorial Day is a time for the entire family to come together, remember, honor and celebrate. As you gather family and friends for parties, cook-outs and bar-be-ques, watch for symptoms of mental health problems in your loved ones and patients, particularly the older, senior or veteran patient.
The life of a caregiver isn’t an easy one, that’s why Home Helpers is here to help. If your family wants a holiday getaway, your patient is in a senior, long-term care or hospital facility, or you just need some assistance, guidance and support Home Helpers provides 24/7 round the clock care.
HOME HELPERS VETERANS & MILITARY FAMILIES INITIATIVE
Service, integrity and commitment are values shared by veterans, their families and Home Helpers Home Care. It’s a common drive to put others first and sacrifice for the greater good. At Home Helpers, we don’t have a veteran’s program. Our Commitment to those who serve our country flows out of our foundational mission. We build our company on these shared values. They are integral to what we do and who veterans are.
