Mom with dementia
My Mom is still alive but not the same person. I feel like I'm grieving her already because dementia has taken away the mother I knew and I'm her caretaker so I experience the loss slowly every day.
@proactiveSky4425
I am sorry to hear about your mother's dementia. I know how hard it is to watch the person you once knew change before your eyes. It can definitely be upsetting. Many people that I know who have been in these shoes say that they grieve the loss of their person twice, first when the disease takes them away and second when their physical body is gone. I know that it can take an emotional toll on you, especially as you are caring for your mother and seeing these things. I have personal and professional experience when it comes to dealing with dementia, and what I can say is that the most important thing is to make sure that you have support. It is so easy to lose yourself and forget about your own needs while caring for your mother.
Do you have any current help with your mother or is it just you right now?
It is just me, but my husband does help when he's not working
@proactiveSky4425
I am glad to hear that your husband helps when he doesn't have to work. That still isn't much actual support for you as a caregiver. I assume your mother has doctors and such that you take her too. Have you thought of discussing your mother with her primary care doctor to see if she is eligible for any supplemental home health or respite care to help you with caring for your mother as well as give you the ability to have a real break to take care of your own things?
I will when I feel I really need to. It's only been a year and she's in the early stages so it's not too bad right now.
I recommend getting on waitlists now while it’s not too bad because sometimes it can be a wait!
@proactiveSky4425
😔💙
@proactiveSky4425
I really truly understand how you feel, a family member of mine was the same.
I am sorry it's hard for you that she is not the same mother you remember, those are rough feelings to navigate and it must be so hard to watch the person you once knew change which you still have to take care of her and yourself. It's very normal to feel like this and you're not alone. It's also super understandable to lose yourself and caring for yourself as that can be hard when you have to be a caregiver to a loved one. ❤️
What strategies have you tried to use for regulating your own wellbeing while being a caregiver? ☺️
Please remember that we're here for you as listeners and as a community ❤️
I'm not really able to do all the things I'd like to do, but I'm managing. I've recently started to exercise a little at home since I can't go to the gym, but it's harder to get motivated and stay motivated at home. I'm starting slow so we'll see...
Iy dear, I am so sorry. As I read your words, I can feel the weight of what you’re carrying. Loving someone with dementia means experiencing a unique kind of grief, mourning someone who is still alive. Dementia is like a silent thief, quietly taking memories, moments, and pieces of the person you cherish, leaving you to navigate a loss that unfolds day by day. That is an incredibly heavy burden to carry. Thank you for sharing this with us here at 7Cups. I’m here to listen. ❤️
Iy dear, I am so sorry. As I read your words, I can feel the weight of what you’re carrying. Loving someone with dementia means experiencing a unique kind of grief, mourning someone who is still alive. Dementia is like a silent thief, quietly taking memories, moments, and pieces of the person you cherish, leaving you to navigate a loss that unfolds day by day. That is an incredibly heavy burden to carry. Thank you for sharing this with us here at 7Cups. I’m here to listen. ❤️