LONG TERM CARE - STRESS

For caregivers such as your family members, caring for someone needing long term care is difficult and stressful. Not only do your caregivers have to deal with their own daily lives, they now have the burden of caring for you.

Your children may have full time jobs and children of their own. Their daily lives are already busy and stressful. Add to that, caring for you! It would only add to the stress of every day life. Would you want that for your children?

EXAMPLE: Betty had a stroke and lost the use of her left hand. Her son, David worked at home and took care of her. He had to help her dress and cook for her which was feasible. Each day he had extra work to do because Betty needed to change into regular clothes in the day and into pajamas during the night. David also had to wash Betty's clothes.

As time went on, Betty had another mini-stroke and she now needed help standing and walking. This put much more of a burden on her son. David now had to help his mother stand whenever she wanted to walk and he had to help her as she walked. Though it does not seem like much work, think of this.

Betty would have to use the bathroom many times during the day. David would have to help her in the bathroom as well. During the night, Betty would wake David at 2 am to use the bathroom. Often it was 2 or 3 times a night! David no longer slept through the night. He became very stressed as he cared for his mother.

Each additional need increases the stress level for the caregiver. Even the smallest of needs pile on top. Caring is not easy, even when your caregiver works at home.