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Caregiving and Working Overload: Have to make tough decisions
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Jan 14 9:29am | Replies (28)Comment receiving replies
Dear Bill
You are an amazing man and an inspiration to so many facing these challenges. I am 82 yrs old and have been caregiver for my wife with advanced alzheimers with all of the classical symptoms. I have been fortunate economically and have 2 caregivers 6 days per week.One from 8am to 2pm and one from 2 pm to 8am who lives with us.I am exhausted from the emotional losses and heartbroken. There are many practical ways for you to go ...none of them great options.
To me your work is a gift as I cannot imagine you being home 24/7 with the sadness...that is no life.
I also felt and still worry that the grief and responsibilities will destroy me.The social isolation is also very painful.I have been working spiritually to practically learn acceptance and surrender as a means of survival.If u would like to discuss this offline let me know. Jack
Replies to "Dear Bill You are an amazing man and an inspiration to so many facing these challenges...."
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Hi @buddha- Yesterday I made a call because I am tired of just talking to a few friends and my family. But mostly, it's my 13-year-old cat and me! I just turned 77 and my husband was just 80 when he died in April. We had been married for 45 years.
We had both been retired, so there wasn't any job to turn to, and I was in pretty bad shape after he died. I was exhausted, still had a broken back, and was deeper than depressed. But as time went on, I felt better. I feel hopeful, I'm not sad and depressed all day long, and there are still things that I want to do. I'm not at my best yet, but hopefully, I'm not at my worst either.
The call that I made was to take a course at the University where I graduated in 1970. I didn't want a Zoom class; I wanted to go somewhere and see others. It's a writing class and I love to write. I'm not yet up to the standard that I was, but I might be someday in the future.
I never thought that I'd survive losing my husband. But I have. I was strong for him when he needed me. I'm learning that I can be strong for myself. You can be too!