I have not written in a long time. My dh is stage 6. We have done the wills, the power of attorney, I have set up daycare, I have visited the VA and taken what they have to offer. Yet, I feel as if I may have missed something. I must do everything for him now except feed him and sometimes he forgets how to do that. He was diagnosed in 2006 and somedays I feel as if this will go on forever. Other days, I feel as if time is running out. The hardest thing for me to do was reach out to people but little by little I am learning to do that. My husband is 60 and has two granddaughters that were born after he was diagnosed. I don't want to lose him but it is heartbreaking to see him like this. It is getting harder to keep my emotions together. How do you tell someone about the constant sadness in your life. I do take things day by day and find that if I tell myself "I will laugh about this later" it does help. Walking helps me to relieve some of the stress but I know at some point I won't be able to leave him for a short walk. I've started going back to church and that has helped....but have I done enough, have I left one stone unturned.

bevL--The only thing I don't see much of in you post is much of anything you're doinbg to take cvare of yourself. My DH is also Stage 6. I hae been hois Caregiver for a long timeee, and the hardest thing I had to get a grasp of is the fact that i have to actively take time (not make time) for myself. If you haven't already, get somne help in. There are thingsa only you can do, but there are many things anyone can do.
My DH cant be left alone, but there are times during the day when he naps or after he goe o bed at night when I claim the time to relax, read, etc. The chores and necessary care only I can do, often can be done while he's up. While in -home help is there, you leave and do something just for you--hair, nails, library, out for a meal, a class. Choices are endless. You will feel good when you return, and that will rub off on your DH and make the situation a bit better for a while.

carosi is right bevi, TAKE the time because if you are waiting for the time to MAKE it won't happen. It sounds to me like you are doing everything that you can do and maybe even more. Stage 6 could still go on for quite a while or it could be a short period of time. The thing is we don't really know for sure. So live one day at a time and take care of yourself so that you can take care of him. I know that it generally goes against our nature to do that because we are caregivers but we need to do it, we are only human.

bev L,
You need to talk to you Dr. about some antidepressants. I was feeling like you and fortunately I have a Dr. who is understanding and could see that this was overwhelming me. He prescribed medication and I feel much better. I still think about all that I can or should have done for my DH but it doesn't overwhelm me. It's not failure to ask for help.

I try to take as much time for myself as I can. He does sleep 12-13 hrs a night which leaves me lots of time but still at home. I do reach out to have people care for him and somedays I feel as if I'm doing everything right and other days nothing right. Thank you for listening to one caregiver who does take it day by day...sometimes minute by minute.