The caring doesn't stop

It would be good to see a list of steps to take to find a caregiver. A social worker in your health care facility may be a place to start. Maybe there's a questionnaire to fill out explaining your situation and health issues.

I heard about a group called Seniors Helping Senior last week, you may want to look into that. I have not personally used them, but will when I get to that point. My husband was diagnosed with glioblastoma in the spring.

Is there any reason you can’t end your caregiving role? I might explore how to get your daughter the care she needs from other sources. I’m in the process of doing that now for my mom. I’ve chosen to reclaim my life.

In Australia it is hard enough to get help for the severely disabled so for a higher functioning like my daughter it doesnt exist. Our politicians have the attitude " you do for family" they dont consider we dont all have extended family and we dont live forever

I see. I’m not familiar with resources for adults in need of daily care outside the US.

How does AUS handle people who are disabled who have no family?

In the States a disabled person becomes a ward of the state, if they are unable to care fully for themselves.

When an adult (over 18 or 21) in the States is hospitalized and there is no caregiver volunteering to take over care "at home" they will discharge the disabled person to long term care home.

Quite often people (family at home) are rather roped in to caring for someone being discharged from a facility here in the States. IF one does not want to be a caregiver one simply says "There is no one at home, including my self, who can take care of him/her at home...". Then they will assign a medical social worker and or a case manager to FIND a care home OR care AT home; depends on situations.

No one HAS to be a caregiver at home. Not a spouse or a parent or adult child. Unless the child is a minor in the case of a parent, even then, if a parent is unable to care for a child at home, they become wards of the state and are admitted to a State home, or a rehab center, long term care home.

Am not an expert on this, so if anyone has any experiences on this, please share?

no such thing here , there is no where for the disabled to go except maybe age care homes if they can afford them or there is a spare bed in a govt funded one

So if they cannot afford to pay out of pocket for their own age care home and there is no "spare" govt funded bed...what happens, do old/disabled people and infirm people over 65 live on the streets?

good question , I often wonder,

I've learned to set my priorities. I took care of my mother, father, uncle, my mother's childhood friend, brother, friend until they died. When my second cousin started to deteriorate, I provided oversight, but not hands on care. I'm older than she is, and have chronic cancer, arthritis, eye problems, etc....I have to care for myself. Time to find someone else to step in. My older sister has 2 sons, time for them to step up. I can provide supportive suggestions, maybe some financial help, but no longer can provide hands on care. I'm old, on chemo, and just have trouble taking care of myself. I'm trying to follow the advice they give on airplanes, "Put your own mask on first, before helping someone else." P.S, I don't have any caregivers waiting in the wings.