ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:

On a day to day basis, it is hard to take care of your loved one with Alzheimer's. Don't get me wrong, it is not necessary the work, but the competitiveness of it all. You picked the job because you love that person and you want to give back to them what they have given to you. At the same time you didn't know how much your life was going to change. This is a 24hr - 7 day a week job. It is not as easy a task as you thought it would be. You are afraid to be in there space, telling them what to do. At the same time you don't want them to get hurt. You don't want to invade their privacy, yet you want them to bath, and go to the bathroom. Where is it that you have crossed the line? Their mind is slowly going by the way side. One day they don't want you to dress them. But the next day, they ask you to help, and all to soon, they don't even know what you are doing. Alzheimer's is a cruel disease. Are you getting any help? Do you find family members to give you time off? Or are they too busy. I personally found that my children did help when they could with their grandpa Joe, but I found other family members stayed away. They didn't want to see him like this. They pretended that the disease didn't exist. No seeing and not knowing was better than getting involved. Are you getting help? If you had the chance to do this all again, would you?

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com