Treasured memories from more than forty years ago. When I was in college, my father sent me about a dozen letters about life at home. The letters showcase his wicked sense of humor and a way of telling a story that pays homage to his Irish roots. Every time I got a letter from dad, I would sit in my dorm hallway and folks would pile out of their rooms to listen to the … [Read more...]
Two Years After Caregiving Has Ended, What Is My Purpose?
"Finding a new purpose in life isn’t easy." Ingrid Ingrid and I have known each other for several years, we attend the same caregiver group. Not long after her beloved husband died, she allowed me to share one of her caregiver stories: A Dementia Caregivers’ Journey is Long. What if YOU need help from 911? This is Ingrid's story today, in her own words, two years after her … [Read more...]
A Dementia Caregivers’ Journey is Long. What if YOU need help from 911?
Ingrid and Pete. I’ve known Ingrid for three years. We met through the United Way of Northern NJ Caregiver Coalition. Initially I knew Ingrid as caregiver to her beloved husband, a person living with dementia. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know Ingrid – a smart, funny, compassionate woman who is a terrific poet and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Despite caring for her … [Read more...]
Caregivers Young and Old Have the Same Concerns.
The devil is in the details. Aisha Adkins is a Millennial caregiver. I am not. But we worry and are responsible for the same caregiving issues. We worry about the future, finances, and isolation. Are we doing a good job of taking care of our loved ones? What is the long term impact of caregiving on our career and family? Caregivers between the age of 18 and 34 – the … [Read more...]
How Best Can I Love and Live With Mom, A Person Living With Dementia?
One Alzheimer's Caregiver Story. Shelly’s mother has Alzheimer’s and she has been her primary caregiver for years. Her mom is a wonderful woman that often thanks Shelly and her other caregivers, despite the fact that she doesn’t know who they are. But this loving behavior wasn’t always the case. There was a time when the violence was so bad (pinching, pushing, punching and … [Read more...]