Comments on: Caregiver Options While Caring for an Elderly Parent

By: Home care

Home care — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:17:10 +0000

I have faced the same problem as I am 26 year old working man and it is very difficult for me to give full time to my parents and look after them properly. I contacted a home care provider company which has solved my problems regarding taking care of my parents. Now I can concentrate on my work.

By: Joyce

Joyce — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:03:51 +0000

I am the caregiver for my father. He is in an apartment right now, but has recently declined mentally. He has vascular dementia. I had decided to put in the nursing home with my mother (who had a stroke and also has dementia–we took care of her at home as long as we could). However, now I think I am going to try to keep him at home as long as I can. I have never taken compensation from my dad for taking care of him, but I think that is about to change. I cannot work right now because watching over him is a full time job in itself. I have been told several times to “pay myself” but never did. However, with Dad declining more and more, I find myself spending more and more time with him. I now do all household chores at his house. I have distributed his medicines to him, taken him to all appointments, taken him to see Mom, done all his paperwork (including paying his bills) for the last 5 years. I never would “pay myself” because I have a brother and I hated to take money from Dad if my brother was not getting any. However, my brother does not do anything. He lives a little over an hour away, but comes to see Mom and Dad probably 4 times a year. I emailed him and asked if he could come stay with Dad on Father’s Day so I could go out of town for the day. He refused. So….I have finally decided to start “paying myself” a paycheck each month!!!! The only problem I have is that I don’t know how much to pay myself. Any suggestions?

By: Shirleen

Shirleen — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:19:49 +0000

I wish I have the answer too. My mother is on permanent wheelchair. I have engaged a full time caregiver to take care of her. However, my mother always having problem with the caregiver which results that I have change a new caregiver every few months. Meaning training and guiding new caregiver. I am planning to quit my current job, taking over the job as a full time caregiver. Note: I am the sole breadwinner. Do I have other options? Pls advise.

By: Kathy Bright

Kathy Bright — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:45:35 +0000

hello: i have a question. i am a caregiver for 4 of my family members. still am .i took care of my daddy for 27 months(deceased now) he had cancer and was very sick.also i took care of my mom @ the same time she has only one kidney,hard of hearing and was no help to me or my dad.my brother is bi-polar,schizophrenia and walked around driving everyone crazy until he got arrested and was diagnosed. then,finally my daughter age 13 @ the time needing me(i’m a single parent) decided to runaway which only added fuel to the fire. my other sibling passed away from lung cancer she was only 52 the same age as i am now.sorry now, to the question WHAT DOES A CAREGIVER DO WHEN THEIR ARE NO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP OR NO KIND OF ASSISTANCE?????? THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN THRU AND STILL AM GOING THRU EXCEPT AT LEAST MY DAD IS NOT IN PAIN AND NOT GETTING ABUSED BY HOSPICE!! IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!! I HOPE SOMEONE CAN COME-UP WITH AN ANSWER. THANKS!!