Reality of Caregiving

"Alzheimer's disease is a boomers' disease.  And young people should care about Alzheimer's because they're going to end up taking care of their parents -- financially, emotionally and physically.  At the rate of every 68 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer's."  Maria Shriver

Shriver is, of course, talking about Alzheimer's Disease, but the cost of caregiving applies to any of us providing caregiving for someone with dementia. The same emotional, physical and financial cost applies to caregiving for someone with Lewy Bodies Dementia, which is the second most-occurring form of dementia.  And, it does not even have to be dementia.  It can be physical illness or disability that causes the need for caregiving.  Most of us are going to be doing some aspect of caregiving in our lives, and most of us will receive some type of caregiving. It is wise to plan ahead.  Unless you are at the upper or lower ends of personal assets, it is prudent to have longterm care insurance.  Very wealthy people can afford to pay for the care themselves, and people in the lower economic ranges can qualify for financial assistance.  I also think we need to be realistic about whether we want to provide the care or pay for the care.  I have done both.  I exited my professional life to provide caregiving for over five years.  I also tried paying someone to come into our home, which was met with extreme resistance by the care receiver -- so, I was left with the choice of letting the caregiving kill me too or placing him in an appropriate and caring facility.  These decisions are very personal, and - in my opinion - need to be made very consciously -- out of loving kindness toward ourselves and the care receiver.