Hello Everyone,

I am from Ohio and I am new to this list, but not new to caregiving.

Since before my husband and I married, 32 years ago, we knew that someday we would be caring for my developmentally delayed sister. She has always lived with my folks. In fact, she was not diagnosed with her syndrome, Cornelia De Lange until she was four. I was ten when this happened, so I guess I've always felt sort of protective of her.

Anyway, preparing to care for her, we added a second story to my parents home almost eleven years ago so that we could start helping my folks care for her as they got older and still be available to my two boys were then still young.

Of course, as my parents have aged, we have begun caring for them as well. Dad is 89 and Mom is 83. They do pretty well, but I take them to all their Dr.'s appointments, clean and cook their evening meals and keep track of their medications. Our arrangement has worked out well for those times they've been ill or in the hospital and has allowed me to be there when I'm needed. I consider myself to be very lucky to have this arrangement as I know many have to spend a lot of time traveling back and forth before they can even begin offering care.

I look forward to getting to know everyone here.

Thanks for having me!

Mary Nix

Hi Mary N.

Welcome, welcome.

Caregiving is not an easy job no matter how prepared you may be for it and I'm glad you chose to seek support.

Having to care for both aging parents, your sister and your own children is a HUGE undertaking in my opinion.

We all need help and support and sometimes only other caregivers can understand when we need to express our stress or anger or sorrow.

Thanks for joining us, we all could use another person's view and take on caregiving!

Mary, welcome. Once again I see that sometimes a challenge can be such a blessing. Your sister's condition (I'll have to look that up later) has led everyone to make plans and adaptations well in advance for caregiving. Most of us suddenly just are,, with little real thought to the matter until we are in the deep end treading water and about to drown.

Hopefully, you will find lots of material here for future reference as the need arises. I am so pleased to meet you.