The role of caregiver is satisfying but also frustrating. Wherever your parent lives, the job may still be on you. This can severely compromise your personal time. In addition to your own physical fallout, conflicts between work and caregiving, sibling strife and raw emotions can be commonplace.
Do you need support in any of these areas?
Your Feelings
Acknowledging your feelings about caregiving, especially the negative ones, is a good thing. The more honest you are with yourself and with others, the more likely you are to realize that your emotions are absolutely normal.
Being a long-distance caregiver is complicated. If you can’t physically check on your parent, how can you ensure that they are getting what they need? A strong support system is key.
Even families that have always gotten along can spar under the stress of caring for a parent or other family member. Multiple decision makers and personalities, differing views, economic and geographic disparities, old family dynamics, complex role reversals, and money issues can unravel relationships.
Dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s and cognitive impairment is wrenching. As a caregiver, you are wrestling with the loss of the person you knew and who knew you—of a relationship built on shared history.
You can’t be in two places at once: meeting work deadlines and dealing with pressing caregiving responsibilities. Neither can you control a doctor’s schedule, family emergencies or myriad other life distractions. You want to do the right thing. Here’s how.
When you’re consumed with caregiving, it can be difficult to think about a future without your family member—or have time to prepare for your own future. But there will be life after caregiving. You can even get a jump on that next phase.
