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@tay1, what a wonderful update. In addition to hearing that a switch to a geriatrician has been beneficial for both of your health care needs, learning that the replies from members encouraged you and were helpful and supportive is valuable feedback. It shows that reaching out is not only a burden shared and halved, but also a way to find solutions and possible next steps.
Of course, you still get irritated sometimes. No one expects you to be the constant angel. You are in your relationship 24/7 every day, with all its ups and downs, trials and triumphs. I think it is a comendable exercise to be able to step outside yourself and consider a single situation from an outsider's perspective to help temper our reactions to a given moment. But can we really expect to be 100% all the time? Nope. This reminds me of something that @indianascott often says about good is good enough or something similar.
- Easing the Burdens of Caregivers: Meet @IndianaScott https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/newsfeed-post/easing-the-burdens-of-caregivers-meet-indianascott/
What exercise and physical activities do you and your husband do together? What activities do you cherish for yourself when you're able?
Replies to "@tay1, what a wonderful update. In addition to hearing that a switch to a geriatrician has..."
When I was a teaching elementary school and raising two young children, I was often frazzled. My mother wrote this on a card that I posted in my classroom and shared with many others. It helped me get a grip of myself and stop feeling guilt that I was coming up short all the time. Caring for a spouse with memory issues is difficult at best with no good outcome to work towards. We just need to stay the course and hope for balmy weather on our journey.
Do all you can do, but all you can do is enough.
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Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! I have to admit that I am not so far into the caregiving role as most of the members here. I have just begun witnessing the memory decline in the past few years and I am not a full-time caregiver. I have read what others have posted and am ashamed that I have complained about my husband who is still able to function physically, but is having difficulty at times remembering. There are many instances that give me cause to worry and that is why I came to the group one day when I was having a bad day of coping and really beginning to accept that maybe my partner is in the early stages of cognitive decline. I wanted to research and also needed a place to vent. I found this group in Mayo Clinic and I feel so comfortable posting here and sharing.
We have a Fitness Center in our senior community where we exercise a couple of times a week and we enjoy walking and playing ping-pong. We also play cards together and enjoy watching movies, although he falls asleep a lot when watching tv. We enjoy visiting and playing games with other couples here.
I enjoy getting out and spending time with family. I also enjoy journaling and, believe it or not, cleaning out closets, and organizing. I think this last activity helps me because it is something over which I feel I have control, giving me a feeling of instant gratification.
Thank you for the link to @IndianaScott. He is an inspiration!