What does a caregiver’s life feel like?
Do they need help? Can you and I help?
If so, how?

At various times throughout the ten years I cared for my loved one, we gravitated toward and joined with others who, like us, spent their day facing the challenges of caring that came with living in Alzheimer’s world. Thank goodness there were others, other places to meet and other people to share with.

We participated in education classes, learning with others in similar situations. We spent weekly activities together while sharing stories and learning from one another about the situations memory loss had introduced into our lives. We kindled friendships with others walking similar pathways, each one waking up to unknowns few of us had ever experienced or expected. We talked of days when life presented us with what we felt were unsurmountable obstacles, days when we’d climbed more mountains and killed more bears than we ever envisioned possible. We had lots of questions and many wishes but didn’t always have answers.

In most cases, in each ‘couple,’ one of us was caring for a family member, the other was our loved one with memory loss. Few of our caregiver friends had much time to be supportive for one another. Just thinking about, planning for, or acting on ideas took time and energy we did not have. We, were drained, sleep deprived, and at our limits, climbing that steep learning curve, doing the best we knew at that moment. Ask any caregiver, they are likely to tell you how desperate, alone, exhausted, and useless they feel.

How on earth did we keep going?

read more ….….
…more what we might do for caregivers to make their life easier, or for a break.
(This full article, alternately titled How We Can Help Caregivers, will also be found on the drop down main menu under Caregiver Knowledge as a permanent page on this site for easier finding on a return visit. Thank you.)

Love and be well, 🌷 Judy

Can I Help a Caregiver? (c) May 2024 Judith Allen Shone All Rights Reserved

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