Comments on: Respite Care: A Caregiver’s Best Friend

By: MSeitzer

MSeitzer — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:27:01 +0000

To McCune,
Sorry for the delay in response. Yours is a very difficult question to answer, but I would expect that there are many others in your situation. I don’t know that I have an answer for you, but I will say that respite is just as much of a necessity for you because you are perhaps not as emotionally engaged in caring for this person…or perhaps it is a different type of emotion, where you are struggling to meet the person’s needs even as you don’t “care” for or love/like them. It’s a challenging situation, because in times of difficulty (which will occur in the journey of every dementia caregiver), there is less of a desire to help the person because you don’t love/like them. You aren’t pushed forward by love/devotion even when it’s tough, you are pushed by obligation or whatever circumstances have placed you in the situation. I would say that a support group could be just as helpful for you to vent about your issues; perhaps seek out a support group that is designed specifically for people in your situation. No matter what you decide, know that there are others in your shoes, and that your job is extremely difficult so be sure to give yourself the respite and distance that you need to provide the care despite the strained situation.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:33:09 +0000

Thanks for the feedback, Kaye! I appreciate you passing it on as well.

By: McCune

McCune — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:59:40 +0000

what do you suggest if you do not love or like the person with dementia? Yet you are expected to care for them.

By: Kaye - SandwichINK

Kaye - SandwichINK — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:30:53 +0000

Great resource for those providing senior home care for their aging parents! I just stumbled this and will be adding it to my Delicious bookmarks and Twitter as well Thank you for all the info and links.

By: Seniors & Boomers News: Dementia's Challenges, Caregiver Vacations, Elderly-Friendly Email, More | Seniors For Living

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:20:21 +0000

[...] Summertime is vacation time for many, which is why this latest edition of Seniors & Boomers: News You Can Use is a bit leaner than usual. Yet still, there is an abundance of resourceful blogs here that focus on baby boomer trends, caregiving, senior living, and more — perfect for summer down time reading. Senior Caregiving It may be summer, but for many caregivers, there’s no such thing as vacation time. In fact, more and more caregivers are forgoing “me” time altogether as a sacrifice to their loved one. However, there is such a thing as “caregiver burnout,” which our SeniorsforLiving.com blogger, Michelle Seitzer, writes about in Respite Care: A Caregiver’s Best Friend. [...]

By: All-Night Alzheimer’s Care? | Women Day by Day

All-Night Alzheimer’s Care? | Women Day by Day — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:41:37 +0000

[...] a great program!

By: Eldercare Blog Carnival - June 9th Edition | Elder Care ABC

Eldercare Blog Carnival - June 9th Edition | Elder Care ABC — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:34:41 +0000

[...] Seitzer presents Respite Care: A Caregiver’s Best Friend posted at Seniors For [...]