Real stories from caregivers are powerful and moving, and hearing these deeply personal experiences firsthand helps us realize we’re not alone. Many other people are on similarly challenging caregiver journeys.
We share three personal stories from seasoned caregivers where they discuss the battle-tested coping tips that kept them going when things got really tough.
Three Personal Stories from Experienced Caregivers to Keep You Going
1. The caregiver journey from beginning to end
What’s the story about?
Adrienne Gruberg, founder of The Caregiver Space, writes about her experience caring for her husband, Steve.
She talks about the different stages of caregiving that she went through and emphasizes the importance of managing caregiver stress and seeking support.
Which types of caregivers would benefit from this story?
- All caregivers will enjoy hearing about the whole journey and the lessons Adrienne learned along the way.
- Hands-on caregivers will appreciate the tips and strategies that helped get her through the worst of times.
Hear about Adrienne’s journey through the different levels of caregiving and how she coped
2. Recognizing and managing caregiver stress
What’s the story about?
Marjorie Horne is a caregiver and elder care consultant in Canada.
She talks about feeling stressed and headed for burnout while caring for her 92 year old mother.
Which types of caregivers would benefit from this story?
- All caregivers can empathize with the feelings of anger and grief.
- All caregivers will benefit from Marjorie’s story about how she and her mother regularly forgave each other after one person behaved obnoxiously.
- Hands-on caregivers will appreciate hearing how she identified her signs of caregiver stress and getting her tips for preventing burnout.
Find out how Marjorie recognized and managed the stress from caring for her mom.
3. Frustrating “advice” from family and friends
What’s the story about?
Suzette Brown, author of Alzheimer’s Through My Mother’s Eyes, cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease for 5 years.
She shares the frustrating and unrealistic advice she got from family and friends.
Which types of caregivers would benefit from this story?
- Caregivers who are dealing with annoying, frustrating, or even offensive comments from family and friends.
- Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers will appreciate the worries and challenges of caring for an older adult with the disease, especially in the earlier stages.
Find out what made Suzette so angry and frustrated with her family and friends.
Recommended for you:
- Real-life Caregiver Stories: Acceptance & Living in the Moment
- What It’s Like Losing Your Mom to Dementia
- One Woman’s Perspective on Caregiving: “It Simply Sucks”
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About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
