Caregiver burnout is a very real problem. It is occurring increasingly as the baby boomer generation ages. I experienced it when I was a caregiver for my husband. My husband's declines due to his neurological disease were basically physical. Some caregivers experience the declines of their loved ones in other ways. Those declines involves memory loss and dementia which takes a huge toll on both the person affected by the disease and also on his or her caregiver.
The program, 60 Minutes, recently did a show which was a result of a ten year plus study on a married couple affected by Alzheimer's disease. The wife was the person who was suffering with the disease, and the husband was her caregiver. The program shows the emotional and physical toll caring for a loved one can have on the caregiver By clicking the first link below you can view that program segment. It is sad, but it is worth watching.
Remember, dear caregiver, do everything you can to lighten your load. Take time for yourself. Seek outside help. Watch your own health. Rest things with the Lord. If you are not currently a caregiver what can you do to help someone who is a family caregiver?
As a PS to this post consider getting my book, Dear Caregiver Reflections for Family Caregivers, as a resource to encourage you; if you are a family caregiver. This is the most recent review at Amazon from a reader of my book. This reader first cared for his mother and is now caring for his mother-in-law:
"I found this book to be a real comfort as I grieved the loss of my mother and also care for my mother-in-law. The author's homespun wisdom is down to earth but also points the reader up to God as the ultimate source of comfort and strength. She does this with great warmth and care, and she transparently shares throughout the book regarding her own struggles, losses, joys, and lessons learned along her own journey caring for her husband. Highly recommended for Christian readers seeking comfort and practical advice along the difficult road of caregiving."
The link to the order page for my book at Amazon is the second link below:
As a PS to this post consider getting my book, Dear Caregiver Reflections for Family Caregivers, as a resource to encourage you; if you are a family caregiver. This is the most recent review at Amazon from a reader of my book. This reader first cared for his mother and is now caring for his mother-in-law:
"I found this book to be a real comfort as I grieved the loss of my mother and also care for my mother-in-law. The author's homespun wisdom is down to earth but also points the reader up to God as the ultimate source of comfort and strength. She does this with great warmth and care, and she transparently shares throughout the book regarding her own struggles, losses, joys, and lessons learned along her own journey caring for her husband. Highly recommended for Christian readers seeking comfort and practical advice along the difficult road of caregiving."
The link to the order page for my book at Amazon is the second link below:
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