Caregiving and Dementia

Contributed by: Dennis Fortier, President, Medical Care Corporation
________________________________________________

When you see the way that caregivers often bond with one another, it is clear that they live through an experience that can be fully grasped only by another caregiver. I have known many caregivers and heard their stories but recognize that, until you have done it yourself, you cannot completely relate to the emotional and physical challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia.

For many caregivers, sharing stories about successful care giving approaches is a much needed form of support. Bonding with others through common experience gives them a sense of camaraderie that helps them forge on as they meet the burden of delivering unending, heartfelt care.

With that in mind, it is not surprising that books and other sources of caregiver information have proliferated in recent years as the prevalence of dementia (and therefore the prevalence of caring for demented loved ones) has grown.

Jaqueline Marcell wrote one of the more popular books on the topic of caregiving. It has been widely acclaimed and helpful to many. You can read an excerpt from her experience here and follow her links to more information if you find it helpful.