Our Blogs

On Caregiving.com, eleven family caregivers share their days through their own blogs:

Derek cares for his parents

Dilys, who resides in Brazil, cares for her mom
About Dilys: “I am 54-years-old and live with my mother and daughter. I have been caregiving for many years as I took care of my father until he died in 1995 and am now taking care of my mother. I am a university professor of the English language and literatures and live in Brazil. I don’t have much free time, but I love reading, all kinds of things, and going to street markets.”

Donna cares for her mother
About Donna: “I am 50-years-old and live in Queens, New York. I am married 29 years to my best friend and we have a 22-year-old son. My mom, who is 91, moved in with us two years ago after having a heart attack. She is a relatively healthy 91-year-old I am blessed to say. She is blind in one eye after having had an eye stroke a few years back but does relatively well. She just needs some supervision but is pretty self-sufficient. I was working as a receptionist for a dancing school for 17 years but just recently retired this past June to spend more time with mom. I love inspiraiton, I love to cook, I just recently picked up crocheting again. I love to be helpful and share positive thoughts as often as I can. I also pride myself on my sense of humor and find something to laugh at no matter what!!!”

Donna W cares for her mother
About Donna: “I have been a caregiver for my mom for almost four years. She is over 95 and in the late stages of dementia.  My husband and I moved in with mom in November of 2005, the day our home had a fire. She was still able to take care of some things for herself, but that began to change and we did need to be here to care for her.”

Gary cares for his mother
About Gary: “I’m 47, caregiver for the last almost 5 years for my elderly widowed mom. Caregiving began over two years prior, assisting mom with my dad when he got sick with cancer.  I’ve worked for 7 years at Bunker Hill Community College, as an associate to the Arts & Sciences Division dean in intermediating with student-instructor academic issues, and processing salaries and contracts for adjunct instructors. My only sibling was my brother who passed away 26 years ago, so Mom’s my only immediate family now left. I’m basically happy-go-lucky, enjoying music, nature, cooking, above all laughter, writing, swimming, and old movies — I’ve just been feeling like there’s not been an opportunity for the ‘happiness’ for a long time. But meanwhile, last September I finally went back to school, beginning my Master’s Degree program in Gerontology with Management of Aging Services Track. And I’m glad there’s always caregiving.com, which I have spread the word about to so many friends and work colleagues, many of whom are currently residing alongside me in us Baby Boomers’ so-called ‘Sandwich Generation.’”

Lillie cares for her mother
About Lillie: “I am a 51-year-old mother of two boys, ages 19 and 15. I’m the caregiver to my 83-year-old mother, a five-time stoke victim. For six years, I also cared for her dad, who had Parkinson’s, dementia and was legally blind. My caregiving began as a child with my grandmother, who lived with our family.”

Miss R cares for her grandmother
About Miss R: Somewhere in the past year, Miss R unexpectedly found herself in the role of caregiver for her grandmother. She is twenty-eight and is working with her father and hired caregivers to make the last few months of her grandmother’s life something special. She believes that nothing in life could have prepared her for this experience but views it as a blessing nonetheless. Eternally grateful for this site, she hopes her posts will resonate with others. For privacy reasons, she has adopted a pseudonym for her writings about her Gram.

Sharon cares for her husband
About Sharon: “I am 62-years-old and I live in a small town in WI. I have been married to my husband for 38 years. We have 3 grown sons, 3 wonderful daughter-in-laws, and seven awesome grandkids. My husband was diagnosed with a serious neurological disease in 2006. It is causing his cerebellum to degenerate. In that time he has gone from still working to a wheelchair. I love singing in church choir, writing, and reading. I also enjoy interacting with children. This year has been slow, but I have been on the substitute teaching list for years. My faith keeps me going during the sometimes very difficult days of caregiving.”

Skye cares for her husband

Skye and her family.

About Skye: “I am 30 and currently managing the daily routine of caring for my husband, Chad, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in November 2007. Chad and I married in 2001, shortly after I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism. We welcomed a daughter in 2003, and then again in 2006. At that time, I quit my job as an advertising account executive to care for my children full time. I’m now a photographer, freelance writer and marketing consultant. I resides in North Carolina with Chad and our two young daughters. My hobbies include photography, writing, cooking and anything crafty. I may be reached by email at skye.lanford@gmail.com. Follow my personal blog at http://thelanfords.com.”

Susan cares for her mom
About Susan: “I’m a single Mom, late-bloomer, introvert and about 60. I live in St. Louis, Missouri. I am planning on retiring in spring of 2010 after 30 years as a computer programmer. My hobbies are reading, genealogy, reading, fractal art, reading and gardening. Did I mention reading? At the moment (January of 2010), I am thinking about caring for my mother in my home. I have two children, a son, a daughter at home, and three brothers, one across the state, one about 200 miles away and one here in town. My brothers and their wives are involved in my mother’s care; currently she is living with my younger brother and his wife. My father died in 2007. I am lucky enough to be able to afford counseling, and unlucky enough to have needed it desperately for about 12 years; now I’m on ‘maintenance’.”

William cares for his father and blogs about their travels
About William: “At 42, I’ve been the sole caregiver for my Father for almost 5 years, and was my mother’s main caregiver for many years until she passed in 1996. I am so blessed to be in my role today. My Father is a veteran of WWII and fought in our country’s greatest battle; The Battle Of The Bulge. I spend every day with my Father and my Hero. Today, and hopefully tomorrow, my main focus to find new ways to keep him happy, healthy and safe. In the weeks to follow, please read about our travels and adventures.”

Additional Blogs
You also can still read the blog of Tara, who cared for her mom until her mom’s death in June 2008. Tara regularly posted about her experiences until August 2008.

Denise’s blog includes insights and inspirations; Ask Denise offers suggestions to family caregivers in need. To reach Denise, send her an email. You can read Denise’s bio here.

Would you like to share your story? Email Denise–we’re always looking for new bloggers for our site.