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Coping.......mainly taking things day-by-day.

Accepting the situation is key. We have become caregivers.
We all want our parents here, but we want them to be healthy and independent, not frail and dependent. But here we all are.

Do what you can to stay healthy yourself, which can be a challenge with all of the demands and stress involved in caregiving.

Let go of the pursuit of perfection. Give yourself grace that you're doing the best that you can.

You can't stop someone from aging and dying. All you can do is make their journey as comfortable as possible.

I'm my 97 year old mother's sole caregiver and it's been a monumental calling. Without hesitation I know that I will never be the same after this journey has ended.

Peace to all.
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Judy01 Oct 8, 2024
Well said. Lost my mom in July and it is not the same. I think when we become caregiver to our parents, the bond strengthens and when we lose them it's a double heartache. We cared for them along with being a daughter and the love between us grows stronger. We hurt more because of the love they showed us and we showed them.
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Get all the help you can get. Anything. Whatever someone offers- say yes I could use that help. There is home medical that is paid for by medicare so you don’t have to transport. Get an aid if you have the insurance or can afford it. Make meals easy and quick. Hire house keeper if you can afford. If not maybe a teen helper. Don’t worry about parent sleeping a lot or watching tv. Vary entertainment for yourself. Music…try all kinds…Irish hymns and slow jazz played on my “echo” or special tv shows or the old shows. Open windows and let in sun and air. Put lots of flowers around if you like that. Pull out a hobby you enjoy..I read, write, knit, sew, and paint. Don’t worry about wearing older clothes around house. If people come over you are cleaning, painting, doing stuff. I wear an apron all day so my clothes don’t get stained. I put my MIL to bed by 10:00 because that is MY limit. I am out a late night person and i nap every day. I have a husband who shares chores,….not cooking but vacuuming, laundry, trash, dishes. He also stays 4 days a week so i can attend exercise classes, swim, and walk. I have a friend who comes one day a week over lunch so I can go out even if I do alone and not to do chores but to sit and eat quietly whatever I want. Taking care of a loved one involves taking care of yourself.
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seekingjoy Oct 6, 2024
This is such a great answer! Hugs to you!
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By getting respite for YOURSELF or placing the parent in managed care if you're burned out.
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There's only one way, take care of yourself first. You're no help to anyone if you're not healthy. The majority of caregivers suffer more than people they care for and balancing life/work can be very stressful, not to mention, add in siblings and handling the financial accounts of yours and the parents and it's pure insanity! So overwhelming!! Stop,breathe! Go out for a drive and scream bloody hell and regroup. You're in control and you're not, it's a no win situation. Don't think that family should be there, accept any help you can get. I remember having burn out and crying to my brother, almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown with no compassion from him. He thought I was overreacting? No,I was realizing my mother was no longer my mother. It was easy for them, they got to be the children and get mom's love. I became the parent and had to be responsible. It's a tough job Bladee,be good to yourself!
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You must have breaks
look at all avenues where you can get a break/someone take over
ensure you are eating as healthy as possible
cut out fast foods/junk foods/sugar/alcohol
and sleep where possible or just rest whenever u can
good luck
it isn’t easy to create a timetable for you as well but essential
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How are you coping with the stress?

GET SUPPORT / HELP
- hire caregivers
- contact volunteer organizations (and churches, neighbors, networks)
- If you can, hire an ind medical social worker
- Family (if you can)
- If parent is in a facility, talk to social worker, administrator - get support wherever you can find it. (Befriend aids ... they are overworked and you creating a good relationship with them will help them help your parent).

SELF CARE
- Do not 'eat' your feelings in (or not eat). Eat healthy as you can.
- Get enough sleep (as you can); take naps (as you can)
- Meditate (try Rick Hanson Zoom Wed 6pm) or others
- Exercise (yoga to swimming to walking).
- Be kind to yourself. Do not judge how you feel.
- Consider a short-term therapist to hel you cope w guilt, grief, frustration
- GET RESPITES (you need to incorporate them in to keep going)
- Tell your friends that LISTENING will help you (not advice giving ... unless you want that).
- Release all your feelings (in a safe place) - could be a friend, spouse, journal, spiritual guide.

ORGANZE
- Create a 'to do list' - for you and others that may help out / caregivers
Writing all the needs out for possible caregivers will save you lots of time in going over the same things over and over again; plus it is a way to assess what is done/what needs to be done.

- Make copies of everything you do. Keep in tabbed binders (after 1-1/2 years, I am just now tossing lots of papers)

- Keep journals:
1) one for you
2) one documenting changes in your loved one (can be helpful in talking to medical providers

RESEARCH CARE FACILITIES
- If needed in the future.
- Be as prepared as possible for the unexpected

KEEP COMING BACK HERE AS NEEDED

Gena / Touch Matters
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I didn't read anything others said, so I may be repeating others.

You do what's best for you. So it's walking, music, meditation or a combo of a lot of things

For me what helps the most is talking to myself.

Sayings I put in my head. Like, let go let God. Or when I leave moms, and I'm upset and don't want to bring it home. I repeat, I'm free, I'm free, in other words I'm not with mom, and I give myself permission to be happy, leave it at moms

This has really seemed to help me the most.

Someone my send me to the funny farm if the hear me yelling, I'm free, but oh well. Reminds me of the beginning of the Mary Tyler More show, when she throws her hat in the air.
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SapereAude Oct 6, 2024
I have mom in hospice care here at her home. I do a "talk therapy" with the voice recorder on my smartphone where I unload my struggles out loud and encourage myself with the Lord's help. I listen, then delete later. Control is an illusion so yeah, it's a reminder to slow down. I'm not a robot!
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Lean to forgive yourself for the plethora of mistakes you will make.
Try to remember how they were before because it puts the current situation into a clearer perspective.
It’s only poop.
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😢 a lot, address what I can and ignored what I can't do anything about or make the best of the situation. I agree to most all of what my mom (99 years old) says because in her mind what she says is how she remembers things and I am not going to try and convince her that she doesn't remember things correctly.
It's very hard. I lived and do things one day at a time.
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Bladee: Seek respite often.
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