Family caregiving

Here you may share your experiences about caring for a family member, and how you also make time to care for yourself.

Comments

[Family Caregiver Support Program Senior Spectrum]

Hi Sandy,

There are a couple of different ways that you might be able to handle your present situation. It is possible that your sister could speak directly with one of the evaluating physicians for your husband. This can happen by contacting the physician’s office and completing a release of information so that she can talk with them. This would save your husband from going through a third evaluation. You could also arrange to have a family meeting with one of the physicians. You would then all have a chance to sit down together to discuss his diagnosis. A good source of information for you and your family about dementia is the Maine Alzheimer's Association. They can be reached at 1-800-660-2871.

[Sandy]

Hi,
My husband is 71 and was just diagnosed with Dementia after 2 evaluations.
His sister does not believe he has it and wants another evaluation done with her there.
She was not there for the other 2. Not sure how to handle this.

[Veronica]

I also struggle with knowing what is safe and not safe for my parents. I try to respect their indepdence as much as I can while they live at home, but I worry about them. Do you have a particular issue that your struggling with when it comes to their independence?

[Daisy]

Caregiving can be one of the hardest jobs in the world. You care about your parent and its hard to know the boundaries of letting them fail and maintain their independence and pride versus keeping them safe. How can I figure out where the line is?

[tiny]

To all you caregivers out there:
I also was a caregiver,taking care of my dad. Sometimes it was difficult to say the least,but I loved him and understood how taking care of him at home instead of putting him in a nursing home would be best. Because he loved getting out,going shopping,eating in restaurants,and going for rides,and sometimes just sitting on the front porch where we lived meeting people and asking them to come in for something to eat or have coffee. This kept his independance,to make his quality of life as dignified,happy and self worth.
Yes I did give up my goals and dreams,job opportunities,my social life with friends,and family and things I enjoyed,but,he was terminal. Now that he is gone,I miss him a great deal,but, things seem to be working out for my good. So hold on if it's difficult for you now but the one you give care to is happy. When they go home. God remembers you and will not let you down.
tiny