Helpful advice, tools, and routines for caregivers in the trenches.
Caregiving at the end of life is one of the hardest journeys anyone can walk. In the past six months, I became both caregiver and witness as my mom declined. This post shares what happened in our final weeks together — from hospice ordering morphine in milliliters to the feeding syringes that made her last…
Understanding Caregiver Burnout in FTD Caregiving
Caregiver burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged caregiving without adequate support. For those caring for a loved one with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), the risk of burnout is even higher due to the unique challenges of managing unpredictable behaviors and personality changes.
Over the years, I’ve learned to recognize the signs of burnout: constant fatigue, feelings of frustration, and losing joy in activities that once brought happiness. One of the most important lessons I’ve taken to heart is that it’s okay to ask for help and prioritize self-care. Small breaks, support groups, and setting boundaries are crucial in maintaining my well-being.
If you’re feeling burnt out, remember that taking care of yourself is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. You can’t provide care from an empty cup.
Hey everyone! Recently, theaftd approached me to contribute to their Help & Hope Newsletter. They asked if I would be willing to write an article for their “Words of Encouragement’ section! What a great opportunity! I happily told them, yes! It’s my belief no matter how strong of a person we might consider ourselves to…
What happens when a loved one with dementia says, “I wanna go home?”
Since caring for my mom, it’s forced me to learn a lot about her. I noticed early in her disease, her language skills were beginning to suffer. She still speaks. But, she was at a complete loss for a lot of words, when she was trying really hard to access them. What I have come…
One thing my mom taught me growing up is that perspective is everything. I have to say, now that I’m her full-time caregiver (for 6 years), she’s right. Perspective is everything. See, I could get mad and act like my life is ruined. But, that doesn’t help either of us. Truth is, my life isn’t…
