10 for '10: Feel-Good Dementia Caregiver New Year Resolutions

11:29 p.m. on New Year's eve. Just found this and want to say thanks.I've already copied it in my notebook to keep handy as I move through another year with my husband who has mid-late stage PD.

I came unglued yesterday & phoned a friend & cried on his shoulder. It surely helped. Feeling lonely & isolated is part of it - but mostly the frustration of being with someone who is never happy. One day, I will look back & be thankful that I was able to take care of my Mother.

After being in tears for day's, someone who really understands. I can't tell you how much I needed this right now. I'm printing this and keeping it handy for the new year. Thank you so very much!

Fabulous, Paula! I haven't been laughing enough lately, but I read these aloud to my husband, who cracked up with me. Our favorite? Don't sweat the medium stuff. Yesterday, for example, my mother picked up a 1 1/2 litre bottle of wine and thought she was putting it on the counter. Nope. Smashed it right into the edge of the counter--red tide! Never saw anything like it. Dripping into appliances, drawers, cabinets, her clothing, our clothing (cleanup). Makes a nice "new" finish on the wood floor in the kitchen, too. I was crying--still in pain awaiting surgery--and my husband kept saying "oh my god!" "oh my god!" in absolute horror and amazement. Finally, he looked up and said "is anyone hurt?" We all had a great laugh. Now, if I could do something with the now-purple-used-to-be-white-cabinets . . . Ah, well. There but for the grace of God . . . time for a chocolate break!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea how much I needed your advice.

Great Post Paula, This is an awesome list of ideas. Thank you for sharing. I work on a blog that discusses caregiving and advice. If you are interested, check it out at www.rightathome.net/seniorhomecare. Thanks, Bill

I'm new to caregiving and have been struggling with the whole situation. Love this article. I'm gonna print it and post it by my computer, so I never forget.

one year and three months of dealing with something I really had no prior concept of how it would devour my life, transform every moment and wring the last drop of emotion out of me, stunning to say the least, easy to loose sight of the big picture, hard to remember it is only for a season, wouldn't have it any other way, learning alot about myself, so yes these type of articles help me to refocus and remind me of why I am here, also helps to know there are others in my position, I am not alone, the loneiness and isolation is the worst part. I will forever be more compasionate to other caregivers now and in the future and will offer the same advice to them.