Caregivers In Crisis

<p>The holidays don't exactly mean fun, family, relaxation, and celebration when you are a primary or full-time caregiver of one person, much less two. Often it means more work, more stress and less help. </p>

<p>For non-caregivers, your "normal" day, is my fantasy.<br> <br> Normal people go to Disney, or Epcot, or Universal, or Hogwarts for a bit of magic or superhero fantasy before returning to the humdrum normalcy of just...

<p>For the most part, there has been no substantial change. Still trying to determine what documents the nursing home needs, and get those. I realize I'm doing it a bit of the hard way, and being a typical control freak...

<p>Basically, I've dropped off the applications at the nursing home, asking to be put on a waiting list, when two beds open up. Preferably in the same room, but not required at the beginning (definately something to...

<p>The last few days, the major battle in my head has been determining which thoughts and feelings are selfish, and which are self-preservation.</p>

<p>I had an initial consultation, via Zoom with Annalee Kruger, Author of "The Invisible Patient", and founder of Care Right Inc.<br> <br> In the absence of significant assistance from family, with the struggles and...

<p>It's one of those days where I am more or less numb, at least on the surface, because it feels like I can't allow any emotion to get near the surface, lest I lose control.<br> <br> It seems there are plenty of offers...

<p>The SLUMS test was administered today to my father by the speech therapist with Home Health, by order of my father's PCP. His score on this basic screening (not diagnostic) test was squarely in the middle of the...

<p>This one just needs listening to, without explanation.</p>

<p>I'm in a situation where in order to regain any part of my freedom and life, my parents need to go to a nursing home or some place able to care for one person who is "total care", and another fast approaching that...

<p>About a week ago, I hit my wall. I realized I could no longer continue full-time, in-home care of both parents at the same time. In the subsequent week, I have made some notifications and requested a tour of one...

<p>We become caregivers, often by default and hopefully out of an urge or obligation to care for the person(s). </p> <p><br> However, is there a danger of this becoming unhealthy for one or all, and if so, what happens...

<p>Over the last 2-3 weeks, due to illness or other reasons, the number of no-call/no-show or other missed shifts from the home sitter service has increased. There have been a couple of new caregivers sent who, while...

<p>I was able to schedule and attend a festival of sorts, two states away. While it did occur, the preparation for, execution of the trip and return was far from without stress and drama.<br> <br> Since I would be away...

<p>Fresh on my unsleeping mind, the struggle finding and keeping paid sitters to help share the load of caregiving such that you can get a modicum of sleep, and perhaps even run errands and other daily activities, and...