As a caregiver, we need to set boundaries to help avoid burnout and build mutual respect.  Healthy boundaries will empower you to take back your life and find sanity.  Without them, our lives become unmanageable, and burnout is imminent.  

To establish boundaries, identify your stress triggers and expectations, and define the consequences.  The next thing you will need to do is to communicate the boundaries to your loved one. This helps create a level of open and honest communication. Your ability to communicate these boundaries in detail to your loved one may vary based on health or personality of your loved one.  One way to communicate boundaries is to put them in writing, but if your loved one has advanced Alzheimer's or Dementia, this may not be a good option.  Pay attention to what they respond best to, in order to establish boundaries.