on my Yahoo! home page, but though it's starts out as a story about someone who died of a brain tumor it is really a story about care givers. Thought I'd pass it along for those who might otherwise miss it. http://gma.yahoo.com/wife-slips-madness-husband-dies-brain-tumor-170825388--abc-news.html
Very good article, and on reading the comments. We are not along in our care giving and abandonment of family. So sad, I wish I knew why it happened to care givers.
Yes, good artice and plenty of comments that show a common thread however what do you do about it ???
Did this happen a hundred years ago? I dont think so because medicine was so primitive that people died quickly and caregiving time was short. Today there are plenty of treatments that can maybe not cure, but ADD time to the life of the person in need. Which adds a greater burden to the caregiver . . . . sounds like a viscious cycle to me. Is there a way out of this?
Every article about cargiving mentions the VALUE of the caregiving. ($billions each year) The ALZ Assoc constantly promotes the number of UNPAID caregiver hours. Is it any different if it is paid or not? I say yes. The difference is whether society pays for the care (inpatient) or we "pay" for it (in caregiver symptoms) As long as we are paying (with our own health) society will not care (the problem is solved) BUT when society has to pay for OUR care then interest will be peaked.
There is no more money available in healthcare, it is frightly expensive the world over - Cuts must be made but where??
Child abuse (physical & sexual) is comonly learned in a family. ("I do this because my parents did it to me") The cure is to remove the child from the abusive home and try to teach them correct behaviors. Foster care is not cheap, but a cost effective way to stop abuse is to intervene with a future abuser who is still themselves a child.
What is the ultimate cure for caregiving stress? Sad to say, but I see it as to shorten the period of cargiving. Care for a terminal diease costs money, long periods of caregiving costs society money in future disabilites.
I can easily see someday when certain diagnosies automatically have a "stop all treatment to shorten to the necessary caregiving time" care plan. Treatments that add only time but not a cure I see as someday becoming taboo. Kinda like dare I say it . . . euthanasia? It might save the caregivers, but is is scary . . . .
Thanks, Ed. Very good article. I couldn't help but notice that the woman in the article was a caregiver for five months after diagnosis. While she experienced some of the same problems as many of us prior to her spouses diagnosis of the brain tumor, her breakdown came after only a fraction of the caregiving length. Dementia brings YEARS of caregiving. It amazes me how so many here with the * have done so well.
Maybe the woman in the article didn't have the support such as this group give each other and the place to vent and get advice,and know you are not alone in your journey.Sure has helped me!