One Dementia Caregiver's Story. In writing my new book “A Relationship Contract for Dementia Caregivers”, I had the opportunity to interview caregivers who care or cared for family members living with dementia. The lessons learned are ones of hope, love and joy. This is an excerpt of Patti’s story. When you talk to Patti, the love for her mom is palpable in her voice and … [Read more...]
What Is A “CARE COUPLE”?
Who makes up a care couple? When an elderly parent falls ill, falls down or is diagnosed with dementia, the adult child is all too often thrown into crisis mode to figure out who to call, what to do and where to turn. It does not have to happen this way. And you don’t have to do it alone. If we take the time to pay attention and put a plan in place, we are able to reduce … [Read more...]
Caregivers, feeling battered by your emotions? Here are some suggestions for what you can do.
Right now, I am spent mentally and emotionally. Certainly, the last seven years of caregiving, two of them amid a pandemic, is to blame. But moving mom into Assisted Living and getting ready to sell our family home has highlighted those feelings in a way I did not expect. Like many caregivers, my default mode is to soldier on. “I don’t have time to break down today, there is … [Read more...]
“Stop the merry-go-round, I want to get off” said every caregiver, everywhere.
I’ve felt this way for a while now. If I could just hop off this caregiving ride long enough to catch my breath, life would be easier, better and more manageable. I’m still on the merry-go-round, but I’ve moved from the carousel horse that goes up and down to one that is stationary and finding my balance is harder than I imagined. I knew moving mom into Assisted Living would … [Read more...]
Caregivers, It Is OK To Ask For Help For Yourself.
I learned early in this caregiving journey to ask for and say yes to help. It has sustained me through the last seven years. What I have recently learned is that sometimes I need help and it has nothing to do with mom. Over the last two plus months, I moved in with mom while we made the transition to assisted living. I left my house on December 30th and did not sleep in my … [Read more...]