One of the things I have learned about caregivers in all caregiving stages is that they are the most generous people on earth. Somehow they know that by sharing their stories, they help others along this well-traveled road.

Tell us about yourself and what has brought you to the end of your role as caregiver. How are you coping? How can the rest of our community be of help to you?

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Puffin

Share A little About You

It's been a while since we have had new members share something about who they are as people. We become so caught up in our caregiving role that we lose sight of the fact that we are three demential people with lives beyond cregiving.

This is the place to tell us what you like to do in your free time. That is if you have any free time while caregiving.

Vicki

Sugarlips

Hey Weezie -- check us out!!

Janie

Caregivers, sometimes talking about how you are feeling helps to put these feelings into context and provides some relief.

Keep in mind also that other caregivers are helped by just knowing that they share frustrations and feelings with you. So your posts can help yourself AND help others feel less alone.

And, as always, if we can help by searching for information, let us know.

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Puffin

I appreciate the confirmation, EA. It was rather what I gathered from experiences elsewhere with caregivers, and I can surely understand it.

In a way, it's a great loss to the cg community since experienced caregivers have so much to offer.

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Puffin

I have found for many after their role of caregiving is over they go to a stage where they have a strong need to back away from the world of caring for someone with Alz. There are a few that can and do continue with involvement with other CGs. In general though there is a time of healing that the CG needs to back off and allow themselves to heal from their experience.

Something I wonder and would welcome thoughts on is this: when the caregiving is over, does the caregiver want to continue in a support group or does he or she want to move completely away from the support community and turn attention to totally other things?

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Puffin