I Am a Caregiver Stories of Experiences

I live with my parents and I always have. For a variety of reasons I remained at home though the two primary ones now are to take care of my mother and because my own deteriorating health prevents me from working and affording a place...

I am just trying to keep going. Our story is long but I'll try to keep it short. In April of 2011 we found out my husband's kidneys were failing. He was a diabetic for many years before I knew him. We have had our share of ups and...

My parents, both in their 60's, are nearing the end of their life. My mother suffers from dementia and my father has emphysema and COPD. I am starting to wonder if he may have cancer as well. My parents hate doctors and usually refuse...

being a caregiver is tricky...its a wonderful personality trait to have but it can get tricky...because we can care for others...but it is only good and healthy if that person cares back...or sometimes someone doesnt give in the same...

My mother, 77, was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I relocated to be with her and be her full time caregiver. With both daughters grown and on their own and having just gotten divorced, it was not a difficult decision. I'm just...

Due undoubtedly to my background in journalism, I have a respect for the power and potential of the written word. It can be cathartic, giving voice to thoughts and feelings whose emotions can cloud a reality that, despite our knowing we...

Todd is the mildly retarded senior citizen diagnosed with Stage IV congestive heart failure with a life expectancy of one to two years and for whom I have become full-time caregiver. We saw his cardiologist's nurse practitioner two days...

I was only acquainted with but did not know the neighborhood man everyone called Todd, a senior citizen who I noticed was the target of cruel comments by the kids in the neighborhood. But I started to know him that Thursday morning in...

If you have ever cared for a loved one or are currently in that role you may have feelings of sadness, frustration, tired and triumph. Still, we wouldn't change being there for our spouse or family member. I want to share a great book...

I am currently in a relationship with the most beautiful person I think has ever been placed on this Earth. He has epilepsy, Dissociative Identity Disorder, major depression, and schizoaffective disorder. His mother has passed away, he...

I spent my entire life as a caregiver.  First for my siblings, to make up for brutal sadistic parents.  Then came single parenthood.  Worked 35yrs as a nurse.  Last gig was a husband with Vascular Dementia.  That finished my...

I am a caregiver/support staff to 4 clients in a group home but usually care for only one of them... A very disturbed young lady with a wide array of disorders..one of them being multiple personalities. She's quite frightening when she...

Whenever I write or talk about this, people get very serious, and try to lecture me.  All I'm trying to do is have a laugh.  I really am trying to be funny.  Here are some of the things people say to me about my caregiving situation...

My sister was diagnosed with a tumour on her brain. Files were lost, pushed around, etc., and finally 3 months later, she was scheduled for surgical removal of this tumour. The surgeon proceeded with a 3 month old MRI on an aggressive...

Scott is my husband of 10 years and he was diagnosed with stage 4 Nasopharyngeal cancer - probably from smoking and drinking - in December 2009. He underwent 32 radiations treatments (the doctor had ordered 40 but he could only complete...

My story begins on looking for a tv for a client of mine. He is in his 60's and it is hard for him to get around during the winter time.So i went on my local freecycle.com to see if i could find him a tv. Well low and behold a family...

I am the caregiver for my man's 87 year old mother.  I used to be an over the road truck driver, and my man drives also. When I lost my job a year ago, we decided that instead of me getting another driving job that I would stay home...

Hi - I'll be brief. April 1 (ha ha), 2004, my husband called my office where I was supremely happy and we had just relocated to plan our retirement in 10 years. From that call, until he died of ocular melanoma on June 16, 2008, I was...

My name is Shaina and I am 22 years old. My 17 year old brother has autism and I am his personal care assistant. I love my brother and would do anything for him. He has trouble with speech and tends to spit at people. He sometimes has...

This has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Both of my parents were diagnosed with lung cancer two weeks apart from one another a year ago. They live in New Orleans, where I am from, and I reside in Portland, Oregon...