- Do not allow the person in your care to take unfair advantage of you by being overly demanding.
- Live one day at a time.
- List priorities, decide what to leave undone, and think of ways to make the work easier.When doing a long, boring care task, use the time to relax or listen to music.
- Find time for regular exercise to increase your energy (even if you only stretch in place).
- Focus on getting relaxing sleep rather than more sleep.
- Take several short rests in order to get enough sleep.
- Set aside time for prayer or reflection.
- Practice deep breathing and learn to meditate to empty your mind of all troubles.
- Allow your self-esteem to rise because you have discovered hidden skills and talents.
- Realize your own limitations and accept them.
- Make sure your goals are realistic; you may be unable to do everything you could do before.
- Keep your eating habits balanced; do not fall into a toast-and-tea habit.
- Take time for yourself.
- Treat yourself to a massage.
- Keep up with outside friends and activities.
- Spread the word that you would welcome some help, and allow friends to help with respite care.
- Delegate (assign) jobs to others. Keep a list of tasks you need to have done and assign specific ones when people offer to help.
- Share your concerns with a friend.
- Join a support group, or start one (to share ideas and resources).
- Use respite care when needed.
- Express yourself openly and honestly with people you feel should be doing more to help.
- When you visit your own doctor, be sure to explain your caregiving responsibilities, not just your symptoms.
- Allow yourself to feel your emotions without guilt. They are natural and very human.
- Unload your anger and frustration by writing it down.
- Allow yourself to cry and sob.
- Know that you are providing a very important service to the person in your care.
- Senior Living Directory
- Caregiving at Home
- Area Agency On Aging
- Blog: Dad Has Dementia
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Home Care Help
- Home Health Agencies
- Medicare Information Finder
- State-by-State Driving Laws
- Blog: Tech-Savvy Daughter
- Caregiver Community
- Ask & Answer
- Aging in Place
- Find In-Home Care
- Home Care Safety
- Meals & Nutrition
- Adult Day Care
- Difficult Conversations
- Managing Difficult Behaviors
- Driving & Transportation
- End Of Life
- Managing Medications
- Paying for Care
- Preparing for Home Care
- Senior Home Remodeling
- See All In-Home Care
- Health A-Z
- Money & Legal
- Caregiver Wellness
- My Caring
I needed this kind of information as I get overwhelmed taking care of my spouse who has dementia.
Dear mark we are praying for you
Hi my name is mark my wife has ms she cannot do anything for her self she has had ms for 11 years she is in a wheelchair has been for 6 years she has a poop bag and a pee line I have three kiddies at home I have had 7 people in my family to die over the past 10 years one last week brothers sisters mother father I was between 11 and 16 when mom and dad passed away I have had it rough I take 11 pills we won't go thire I need all the help I cam get pray for me
Hugs Opliha
Hi, my name is Barry. I am 44 and my wife is 44. She has MS. She can barely walk with a walker. She basicly cannot do anything for herself. I have five kids and three still live at home and in school. I am also a minister. I don't question God or I have never blamed God, but find that life is very hard. I look for an end to this situation, but there is no answer. I have my wife to take care of, my sons, the house and my job. Plus I have a mother in law that cannot drive and I have to help around her house sometimes and take her shopping. I have been on depression pills, but they only help alittle. I have gone for counseling, that didn't really help. No one knows what it is like until you walk in that persons shoes. I just pray that one day when there is an end to the situation, it will have made me a better person. I just wondered if any caregivers out there have found that disabled people can be down right demanding and very impatient?
Dear Anonymous and BrendaQ, Your stories touched my heart so much. I am so sorry for the pain you are going through. You have come to the right site for help. Look at other questions or post your own. You will find wonderful people here that you can talk to about your issues and you'll be able to get many suggestions on how to get through this. There are so many people in similar situations that have such good advice. Stay with the site...it really does give you so much support. Although my mother-in-law died 3 months ago from Alzheimer's and I was her main caregiver, I still come here because I still need support. Read the other questions here..look for the ones that relate to what you are going through and comment on them. Take advantage of this site. It really can help. My prayers and thoughts are so with both of you!! Don't give up.. {{{hugs}}}
my dad has dementia and I'm 16 and I don't know what stage he is in but it is so hard on my family.I cant sleep and i don't want to take meds and I have sick thoughts that I would never have but i am trying my best to deal with it. my mom got laid off from work and its hard to find a job at the time now.my sister in disabled because of her back.I have school trying to find another job that gives me more hours and for a 16 year old its hard.. there is so much stress but it helps but sad to think that other people have it worse,not all the time tho. playing video games is my time to zone out of the stress.most of the kids my age are doing bad crap like drugs,drinking,and all that bad crap,i just wish the kids now would stop that and help kids like me and my one friend.I wish i could get help with these thoughts the only thing that is keeping me alive is my family and its falling apart and i don't know what to do and thats so hard on the family because i take it out on them and i feel like crap because i can't find another way to get it out other than playing games and i get so tiered i can't play or do school.I'm failing in school and not in a public school,I'm in a Christian school with three other students one of them is my friend that i talk to and hang out with but he doesn't know what to say because he can't understand.I don't know what to do i tried to blame it on God but can't anymore because i pray and pray but nothing is getting better just worse.any one who can help or talk to would be nice thanks.
Hello my name is brenda , and i am a caregiver for 74 year who is in the last stages of copd, he does not have family who is surported of him, there don't even come to see him are any thing, and there live close bye to, but i am under so much stress , i have not been feeling well either, i see him go down hill with this copd, and i don't want to be alone, but i have been taking care of this man for nine years, and his family don't even call him are nothing to see how he is , i really need some one to talk to about this , and i don't know who to trun to any more except my god, and some times thats not enough, i don;t go any where except to the store ,and back home with him all the time, i never go anywhere for my self , i can't even date , i am 50 years old , its like i have put my life on hold for this man , cause he don't have a family, and i don't either , so we just try to take care of one another , thanks for listerning , lots of prayers ,and love, love always brenda Q from ""A""L" lewis_brenda@att.net
Hugs Crys, ELAINEJ