Just wondering if anyone else is caring for an elderly loved one. My dad is 90 and is pretty independent but is slowing down quite a bit. Fortunately he is still able to bathe, dress and feed himself (in fact, he still cooks for my brother a lot). Last year I was able to care for my aunt briefly as she was dying of ovarian cancer. I was just wondering if others have had the tables turned where they were originally being cared for and ended up being caregivers themselves and how well you handle the responsibility while dealing with your own symptoms.
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i cared for mrs sith while she was going through cancer, it was pretty hard and stressful to say the least, but i had a routine i followed which helped to keep me focused.
preparing the food, the hospital visits etc. i learnt to meditate a lot and listen to calming music.
take care
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My mom had two hip replacement surgeries during which time I had to care for her and take care of all of her household responsibilities. I actually took a semester off school to care for her for the second hip replacement surgery as there was no way I could attend full time and also care for her. For the first hip replacement surgery, I was taking one online summer class, so I was able to manage. Other than that, my parents are still pretty independent. My mom hasn’t been able to drive for over twenty years because she is legally blind, but my dad still drives.
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I help my father out with my mom - she is elderly and has mild alzheimers
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I care for my dad who is 86. My dad has big problems walking so he has difficulty getting about. Life can be cruel because his most favourite thing was going out for walks. I go up lots and try to lighten the load.
My dad has helped me when i was in hospital coming up to visit me. He has never judged me and my illness. I don’t know that i’m doing that much, but being there means a lot.
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I have considered myself the caregiver to a much younger sibling as she grows up and she’s fighting off anorexia. I have taken care of her at some points in my life, when she isn’t able too… My sis has taken care of me when I haven’t been able to.
It’s odd for both of us.
There was a time when her being sick or injured would trigger my symptoms and I’d fall apart. That didn’t do either of us any good. Lately, I just have to breathe, get some ideas on what to do and go from there. Most of all, stay calm. Some times I can stay calm through meditation, some times it takes Xanax.
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My dad also has a lot of trouble walking since he has stenosis in his back and pretty bad arthritis. He has to use a walker all the time. He saved my life on many occasions and even once argued his way in to see me in the middle of the night at the psych ward when I was having major problems.
My brother who lives with him does a lot for him. We pretty much just have to take him to the doctor, get his groceries, and do some cleaning. It is just hard living 20 miles away in an emergency. I always have a twinge of anxiety when he calls me on the cell phone which I leave on 24x7.
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I was a caregiver for my parents before they died. I have a red cross home health aide certificate. I gave them their meds. drove them to the doctor, even though im legally blind someone had to do it
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