Battling Alzheimer

While college students plan their parties and high school students consider their weekend options; while your coworkers give thought to what movie they’ll see this weekend and family members consider how they might celebrate Easter, your plans remain the same. 

Whether you have dinner with family, attend a religious service or plan to stay home, one thing is constant.  You are a caregiver.

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Dear Caregiver,

It’s Friday and the weekend is coming.  If you’re like I was there is no such thing as a weekend, the days just meld together into one v-e-r-y long day.  Your activities may be a little different, but at the core it’s all the same, whether is Saturday or Wednesday, you are a caregiver.   Alzheimer’s doesn’t take a break and the byproduct of working around the clock is stress.

I can remember being so tired and frustrated, I just wanted to get in bed, cover my head and cry.  Of course, I had a young son, so THAT was not an option.  I do recall that my son was at a friend’s house one day and I did climb into the bed, but I was so tired and had so much to do that I couldn’t rest.  My mind flitted from one to do item to another and finally I got up.  Honestly, it felt wrong and I felt guilty for resting in the middle of the day.  Never-mind that I had been up till the wee hours the night before; never-mind that I was an emotional wreck because I was watching my favorite girl, my mom, slip away right before my eyes.  Did I mention that I had a toddler at the time?  I just needed to give myself permission to r-e-s-t.

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