The Diary of An Alzheimer's Caregiver

Appreciate the good, laugh at the crazy, and deal with the rest!

  • Home
  • About T.D.A.C.
  • Blog
    • CAREGIVING
      • AWARENESS
      • RESOURCES
      • STORIES
      • TIPS
    • ALZHEIMER’S
      • AWARENESS
      • RESOURCES
      • STORIES
      • TIPS
    • OUR LIFE
      • MOM’S STORIES
      • MY STORIES
      • RA
      • SOCIAL AWARENESS ISSUES
    • YOUR STORIES
      • GUEST BLOGGERS
    • PRODUCTS & REVIEWS
      • BOOKS
      • PRODUCTS
      • SERVICES
  • Contact
  • Resource Library
Home » Blog » CAREGIVING » RESOURCES » IS THERE A CAREGIVER IN YOUR LIFE?

November 23, 2015 By Rena McDaniel 21 Comments

IS THERE A CAREGIVER IN YOUR LIFE?

is there a caregiver in your life

IS THERE A CAREGIVER IN YOUR LIFE?

Caregiving is a hard job. You are responsible for the person you are caring for not only medically, but emotionally and physically. You always have to put the patient’s needs before your own. You have to be available at all times and they must come first in your life. The caregiver must have a reliable support system in place if they are to maintain their own health and sanity and this can be hard to come by. If you are not with the person all day you don’t realize just how hard it can be. People think that AD patients are just forgetful and yes it is true, but there are also emotional changes, mood changes and physical changes as well.
You have to keep up with every aspect of their well-being. Everything from their diet, making sure they eat enough of the right kind of foods, to their safety and everything in between. Mom is bad for turning the stove on to boil water and then just walking away and forgetting. You have to take charge of their physical health. Are they taking their medicine correctly. Are they bathing often enough, changing their clothes. These are things that an AD patient will forget. Do they have doctor’s appointments and if so what are they for and what is the doctor telling you. Did you know that 6 out of ten AD patients will wonder off?  You have to monitor where they are at all times. Are you tired yet?
Luckily, right now my mother is able to do most things by herself. She can get dressed even though we have had the problem of putting the same clothes on day after day. She can fix herself things to eat. I just sit back and keep and eye and ear open to what she is doing. I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone in the house anymore. I picture her turning the stove on and burning down the house, but she is able to do a lot of things herself. I know this will change and I hope to be ready to deal with it when the time comes.
One of the important things a  caregiver can do for their own health is to get regular breaks. Some time to themselves or to spend time with other family members. People on the outside looking in don’t see the damage that is occurring to the other relationships in the caregiver’s life. Husbands, children, and friends who must take a constant back seat in their lives.
If you know a caregiver be kind. They are dealing with a lot and could probably use your help. If you say you are gonna help them then follow through on the promise. Stop by for a visit and just listen to what they have to say. Caregivers don’t get a lot of opportunity to talk about their problems and concerns so just let them vent. Stay with the AD patient and let them get out and get some things done or just visit with the AD patient and let the caregiver take a nap, or read a book, or even take a shower. These are little things, but speaking as a caregiver they mean a lot. It is reported that as many as 20% of caregivers suffer from depression.
Remember to:
Appreciate the good, laugh at the crazy and deal with the rest.
 I love you momma!
151Shares

Related

Filed Under: RESOURCES, RESOURCES, STORIES, STORIES Tagged With: Caregiver, Caregiver awareness, Caregiver tips, caregivers

About Rena McDaniel

I'm a recovering Alzheimer's Caregiver, a former loving daughter, a current wife, mom, and grandma who remembers all too clearly what it is like on the front lines of Alz Caregiving. I provide real advice, pro tips, or excellent tools from my own experiences and other experts I find along the way. A community of caregivers supporting each other!

« CELEBRATING NATIONAL CAREGIVER MONTH WITH RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
SHARE YOUR CAREGIVING STORY? »

Comments

  1. Carol Graham says

    November 23, 2015 at 10:37 am

    I wish we lived closer — I’d come over and give you a break!

    Reply
    • Rena McDaniel says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks, Carol, I actually had a break this weekend besides you’re never home haha!

      Reply
  2. midlifecrisisnut says

    November 23, 2015 at 10:53 am

    This post shouts “me” from A to Z. And although my mom isn’t suffering from AD the symptoms and behaviour after the kind of complicated double brain surgery (two tumors, one bigger than the other, one at skull base, which is considered the most complicated and the other one on the eye nerve) are pretty much the same. And while I’m not suffering from depression, I do suffer severely from a burnout, where my health gives in big time (menopause at 38, adrenal burnout and now the thyroid). I find that it’s absolutely vital that you keep on doing what you do Rena, by shedding some light on the hard work of caregivers. I’m not complaining because I’m just happy my mom’s alive and improving, but I know how hard it’s to take care of somebody while still having young kids at home. At times I don’t have anything left to give, to my kids and to my husband (so these relationships are suffering too), because I’m so exhausted after a whole day of care. And on top if it, we live in a foreign country, where we can’t rely on the support of family and longtime friends. So from my perspective caregiving is also a very lonely place. Which is precisely why I started blogging, to create this little sane space for myself, to just drift off in the land of humor and not think about the situation I’m in. This or a mental institution, I chose the first:)
    xx Abby

    Reply
    • Rena McDaniel says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:52 pm

      Hi, Abby! Wow, your family has had a lot to deal with and I cannot imagine trying to do it with kids full time as well. At least at 3 I get to send my lovely grandchildren home with their momma or I would probably end up in a padded cell. I know exactly what you mean about being a very lonely place. I started blogging for exactly those reasons. It’s funny I actually had an appointment with a counselor to talk about my isolation and depression and all of those ooey-gooey problems that come along with caregiver! Once I started my blog I called and cancelled that appointment and that was two years ago in January. We have quit a lot in common! And here I thought you sat around drinking wine with your girlfriends!

      Reply
  3. Haralee says

    November 23, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    I admire those of you who take care of your loved one at home. It is a very difficult job. A respite is needed for sure.
    We were lucky. My Mother had enough money and wanted to go into assisted living at age 86. At age 90 she needed to go onto their memory floor and now at age 93 she is in the nursing home associated with the assisted living with full dementia.She is non-verbal and can not self feed or walk.It is a horrible disease!

    Reply
    • Rena McDaniel says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:53 pm

      This disease is horrible Haralee! I am so sorry that it has affected your family this way!

      Reply
  4. Liz says

    November 23, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    What I find difficult is being solely responsible for the social. I can’t be too tired to visit because I might be the only visitor all week.

    Reply
    • Rena McDaniel says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:55 pm

      You’re right that is so difficult, especially when added in with everything else we have to do. Even a phone call would be appreciated around here!

      Reply
  5. Karen @BakingInATornado says

    November 24, 2015 at 8:25 pm

    As always, you have my undying respect.

    Reply
    • Rena McDaniel says

      November 25, 2015 at 8:30 am

      Right back at you dear friend! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
  6. dltolley says

    November 25, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    As always, you have opened my eyes. I have always cared for children, but with children, you are usually a step ahead. And are still bigger than they are. I can just imagine advanced mobility (and height) combined with the challenges of AD. I know of two caregivers. I will definitely be more supportive. Thank you again for the heads up.

    Reply
  7. Marcia @ Menopausalmom.com says

    November 25, 2015 at 11:05 pm

    You are an amazing, admirable woman. I would be so exhausted if I was my mother’s caretaker. Seriously, I don’t know how you do all the things you do, Rena!

    Reply
  8. Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says

    November 27, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    Hi Rena! I hope you were able to have a good Thanksgiving and am reminded once again at how challenging it is to be a caregiver. I hope that you, and every other caregiver out there, find the help, support and love that you deserve. ~Kathy

    Reply
  9. Liv says

    November 28, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    You’re so right Rena. It’s a hard, thankless job sometimes, I’m sure. Best to keep your eye out for the helpers. Sometimes they’re the ones who need help.

    Reply
  10. Pat says

    February 1, 2017 at 9:44 pm

    Wow! Thank you for this article, and your loving heart!!
    A blessing to me and the lovely woman I care for.

    Reply
    • Rena McDaniel says

      February 7, 2017 at 10:14 am

      Thank you Pat! Your kind words mean the world to me! I hope you have subscribed so you can take advantage of all of the resources in the resource library.

      Reply
  11. care homes says

    July 5, 2017 at 11:34 pm

    For now, my parents are my caregivers. But sooner or later, I’ll be the one who will be their caregiver.

    Reply
  12. aged care Brisbane says

    September 6, 2017 at 3:33 pm

    The caregiver in my life now is my parents and my fiance.

    Reply
  13. home care says

    September 11, 2017 at 7:41 am

    With in-home care, families that are unable to serve as primary caregivers have the benefit of knowing that their loved ones are receiving professional, compassionate, and personalized care in the convenience of their own homes.

    Reply
  14. care homes says

    December 24, 2017 at 9:24 am

    If there is. It’s my parents. They are the ones who took care of my being.

    Reply
  15. care homes says

    January 5, 2018 at 6:31 am

    My mom is my number one caregiver since birth. I really want to return the favor.

    Reply

Have a question? Just want to talk? I love comments! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Are You Looking For Something Specific

We’re Thrilled To Have Been Awarded As One Of The Top Alzheimer’s Blogs of 2020!

Best Alzheimer's and Dementia Blog Award, 2020 by eMediHealth

☆☆☆☆☆ By eMediHealth ☆☆☆☆☆

Let’s Connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Find me there!

Healing & Condolence Gift Package From A HEALING SPIRIT.ORG!

Tags

Alzheimer's Alzheimer's Awareness Alzheimer's Characteristics Alzheimer's progress Alzheimer's research Alzheimer's resources Alzheimer's statistics Alzheimer's Stories Alzheimer's tips book review Caregiver Caregiver awareness caregiver fails caregiver health Caregiver resources caregivers Caregiver survival Caregiver tips Caregiver tools Caregiver traits caregiving Caregiving awareness Caregiving resources caregiving tips dementia dementia tips Erica Silva Family guest posts holidays life lessons Lydia Chan midlife Midlife Women my stories our life product review RA relationships Sally Phillips senior abuse Senioradvice.com seniors service review sponsored post

Contributor to:

Some posts on this website may include affiliate links.

These links will be signaled by the presence of (*) before or immediately. What this means is that you buy the product or service that denotes the (*) I will earn a small commission which helps keep TDAC up and running. The commission will in no way affect your pricing.

Information on this website may be copied for personal use only. No part of this website may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the author. Requests to the author and publisher for permission should be addressed to the following email: Rena@theblogging@911.com

wanderingwebdesigner

"All who wander are not lost" We're exploring this great country one campsite/hotel at a time! Our bags are always packed & ready!

Rena McDaniel
#wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travel #wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travelholic #travelgram #travelinggram
#nationalparks #nps #instatravel #explore #vanlife
#travelphotography #exploring #explorer #wanderlust #doyoutravel #goexplore #travelmore
#lovetotravel #wonderfulplaces #roamtheplanet #travellifestyle #traveladdict
#wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travel #wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travelholic #travelgram #travelinggram
#nationalparks #nps #instatravel #explore #vanlife
#travelphotography #exploring #explorer #wanderlust #doyoutravel #goexplore #travelmore
#lovetotravel #wonderfulplaces #roamtheplanet #travellifestyle #traveladdict
#wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travel #wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travelholic #travelgram #travelinggram
#nationalparks #nps #instatravel #explore #vanlife
#travelphotography #exploring #explorer #wanderlust #doyoutravel #goexplore #travelmore
#lovetotravel #wonderfulplaces #roamtheplanet #travellifestyle #traveladdict
#wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travel #wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travelholic #travelgram #travelinggram
#nationalparks #nps #instatravel #explore #vanlife
#travelphotography #exploring #explorer #wanderlust #doyoutravel #goexplore #travelmore
#lovetotravel #wonderfulplaces #roamtheplanet #travellifestyle #traveladdict
#wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travel #wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travelholic #travelgram #travelinggram
#nationalparks #nps #instatravel #explore #vanlife
#travelphotography #exploring #explorer #wanderlust #doyoutravel #goexplore #travelmore
#lovetotravel #wonderfulplaces #roamtheplanet #travellifestyle #traveladdict
#wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travel #wanderer #traveling #travelers #travelbug #travelholic #travelgram #travelinggram
#nationalparks #nps #instatravel #explore #vanlife
#travelphotography #exploring #explorer #wanderlust #doyoutravel #goexplore #travelmore
#lovetotravel #wonderfulplaces #roamtheplanet #travellifestyle #traveladdict
Load More... Follow on Instagram
© 2021 The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver / Designed & Maintained by TECHNOLOGY-THERAPIST
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you okay with it.OkNoRead more