Grief Counseling Can Help Caregivers Long Before Care Recipient Passes
Dear Carol: I supported and cared for my parents for years before they both died days apart last year. Now, my husband has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and doesn’t have long to live. Our cherished plans for traveling once the elders passed have been replaced with a future of medical appointments, procedures, and treatments. I’m depressed over the suffering he will experience and the idea of losing him. What’s truly awful is that I’m also resentful about more caregiving. I love my husband and can’t believe I’m having these thoughts. Without question, I’ll care for him, but to do that well, I clearly need emotional and psychological help. What kind of counseling should I look for? – LD
Dear LD: I’m so sorry about your recent losses as well as your husband’s devastating diagnosis. You already have so much to grieve and likely little time to indulge yourself in dealing with this grief. Considering the last grueling year, it’s only normal to feel resentment along with your grief over this latest turn of events. I believe that grief…
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Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories: “An inspiring read for caregivers! Minding Our Elders is a series of stories about caregiving. But it is much more than that. It’s a book that helps us view aging and community through the lens of someone well versed in eldercare. Author Carol Bradley Bursack has been a caregiver for a neighbor and six elderly members of her family. These experiences made her the perfect person to interview and share the stories of friends and acquaintances. Through crisp writing and a sharp focus, we enter the lives of those struggling to care for loved ones with dementia and other age-related illnesses. As I read Minding Our Elders, I felt myself filling up with both appreciation and admiration for those who adopt the caregiving role. In addition, I was struck with the inherent value Carol sees in our elders. This is a well-written book that will stir your heart!” …Ann C
