Sometimes no matter how hard we try, caregiving for someone with memory loss is tough. We love our people with diagnosis, and that’s why we hang in there, but once in awhile we need a pillow to scream into. We fix their favorite dinner, and because their taste buds grow bitter, they think your trying to poison them. You try to get them to bathe, and they tell you they bathed earlier today. They run stop lights, drive the wrong way into fast foods windows lanes, and you don’t know how to gingerly ask for their car keys. This weeks issue is they keep spending money they don’t have and you can’t reason with them to stop. Last week they gave a $100 tip on a $40 meal at the restaurant. I need someone to come into my home and help me. Where do I start? How much does it cost?

Repetitive questions; “What time is it?” 25 times in a row. The world doesn’t understand. My nerves are frayed. My mom was kind, gentle and loving.  Please God let me be kind, gentle and loving with her now. I have heard so many times, issues like these and more. My heart goes out to my fellow caregivers. We need understanding too. Maybe a valium would help. Okay not really, but I am tired and weary and I have to work tomorrow. Please let him sleep through the night tonight; sun-downing is getting the better of all of us.

We have so many questions like:

• We are running out of money, how will we pay for care? How do we apply for Medicaid?
• I don’t know what Medicare will cover?
• Dad is wandering; how do I keep him safe?
• How are we going to get through the holidays?
• What are people going to think when they see my husband at Christmas? How do I prepare the kids for the progression of his Alzheimer’s?
• My wife is turning violent; I need help!
• How do I shut off the credit card?

I know how hard this is and #caregivernation, I have all the respect in the world for you! I have answers for many of these questions on my new BUNDLES site on https://summitresiliencetraining.com/about/bundles/

Please visit this site and tell me which bundle you like best and why it has helped you! I will be awarding prizes for the best submissions on this BLOG!

#Caregivernation You Know I Love Ya!

Jill Lorentz is the President and owner of Summit Resilience Training, Dementia Education for caregiver’s. She is also the Host of Dementia Resilience with Jill Lorentz on Cruisin’ 1430 KEZW, which airs Sunday’s MTN from 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Jill teaches families and professionals strategies and techniques which help them to feel understood and allows them to reduce stress so they can enjoy their lives while caregiving.