Caregivers also need to think about how drugs will interact with alcohol: "Talk to his doctors -- what medications is he on? Can alcohol get in the way? You don't want him intoxicated; he's already impaired."

Kallmyer said one of the first steps to take when someone you love has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia is "to get educated about the disease. The more people can plan ahead of time, learn ahead of time, the better you can handle situations later."

To help you plan ahead, you can check out a tool from the Alzheimer's Association called the Alzheimer's Navigator.

Caregivers must care for themselves, too

"When you're in a caregiving role, it's hard to think about yourself," Kallmyer said. "It's very, very common for people to say, 'This isn't about me.'

"But if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be around to continue to take care of your spouse, your mom, whoever it may be."

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 15.2 million Americans provide nearly 22 hours of unpaid care per person per week. That's the equivalent of a part-time job.

Sixty-one percent of caregivers say the emotional stress of the job is "high to very high," while 43% say the same about the physical stress.

"They're not getting enough sleep; they're not eating right; they're not getting enough exercise," Kallmyer said.

Kallmyer said it's easy for people to lose touch with their social networks or to lose interest in old hobbies when they're juggling so much. That can lead to isolation, which can be just as dangerous for caregivers as it is for the people for whom they're caring.

The Alzheimer's Association has a 24/7 help line for caregivers with questions. The number is 800-272-3900.