Caregiving, not alone

I feel quite similarly. My dad declined extremely quickly after developing an infection and spending a month in the hospital. It seems like no matter what I do (walking, range of motion exercises, thorough skin care) he continues declining.

Are you also the youngest of siblings, or an only child? We're most often the ones stuck with most of the burden. People are always "too busy" to help, as if we aren't--I would love to be able to continue my degree/career, but I can't when the burden is 100% on me. Yet family members tend to assume that you've got it easy, because "you're just staying home with dad all day, it can't be that hard." People don't realize the planning, stress, and backbreaking work that goes into caregiving. It's like having a 200-pound newborn that never grows up. I'm just as stressed and in just as much pain as when I was working, only you don't get a break from this job.

I barely have time to take care of myself. I ate gummy bears for dinner last night, and that was eat. I haven't showered in like three days. I'm broke and depressed (couldn't even afford therapy if I tried). But, we continue moving forward for our loved ones. I wish I had advice, but all I can say is I know how you feel.

/r/CaregiverSupport Thread