A caregiver is someone who provides care to, or assists, a friend, family member or person in one’s home or in a care setting. As we get older, if our parents are still alive, many us find ourself in such a position.
According to caregiver.org, about 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to someone within the last month. Of that 43.5 million, 34.2 million of those people were aged 50 or older. This means about one in five Americans are caregivers. Are you? If so, please leave a comment and explain how that affects your life as an RVer.
Do you provide care for a relative? Feel free to leave a comment after you vote. Thank you.
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Care-giver? No. But I am near my mother and take her to doctors and other places, just as I did for my father before he died. My wife does similarly for her parents.
I guess that’s what I am now. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer back in November and it has spread so much that there isn’t much they can do. We just thought he wasn’t bouncing back from a bout of COVID in August. I will cherish every day we have left together.
We are so very sorry to hear that, Ellie. We wish you strength and peace during this very difficult journey. Huge hugs to you and your husband. –Diane at RVtravel.com
I was my husband’s caregiver from 2012-2017, he passed at home from ALS. I now help my parents, 88 and 89, still living in their home. Also, I am a part-time caregiver for my granddaughter, 7, who has severe cystic fibrosis, on a feeding tube, several daily pulmonary treatments, and 20 meds daily. I manage to take breaks, mostly in my RV, traveling with friends and family and occasionally my granddaughter!
I am blessed to have a 95-year-old WWII Navy vet Daddy to take care of, kind of… He still lives by himself 600 mi away from where I do. He still drives and does his own housekeeping, laundry and yard work. He is amazing! I have to take Daddy when I plan my travels. I love to travel, but realize I have to be able to get back to him as fast as possible.
Took care of wife’s parents for some years. We moved them in with us for a year. That was too much.
I’m a 5 day a week caregiver for my 10-month-old grandson. Does that count? It’s certainly stressful enough!
Yes that counts, my daughter baby sits my great grand daughter during the week.
I’m a lot closer to needing one than being one, as many here are likely to be also.
But I was for many years. My Mother has now since passed
I answered no since I’m technically just a wandering retiree. However, my retiree status, along with my rv wanderlust, has enabled me to be a temporary caregiver for family and friends. I’ve substituted for others to care for cancer patients and am now supporting my daughter-in-law who works full-time. My son is off on a 4 month research sabbatical so being present after school for my granddaughters is another way to be a caregiver.
I was a caregiver for a sibling for several years until 11 months ago when he passed. However, we weren’t traveling much during that period.
I lost my brother to cirrhosis of the liver. The best 4 months and worst 4 months of my life was taking care of him for his last 4 months. I will never regret doing it and I am so happy to know that I could help him at least a little bit. Bless you for taking care of your brother.
Our son, 39, is physically handicapped, non verbal and requires 24/7 care. Until 3 years ago he lived with us. At that time, our daughter, her husband and 2 boys decided it was time for them to take care of him. They moved into our house that was built for his needs and we downsized nearby. He has a caregiver during the day.
Those who are, or have been caregivers, will agree that we are enormously blessed to have our daughter and her family give us this gift.
My son was a 6-1/2 month premie and suffered brain damage at birth from annoxia due to entanglement in the umbilical cord. I have been caring for him since 1971. Luckily, he enjoys camping, hiking, bicycling and canoeing as do I. The help I did have from his mother ended when she had a stroke and passed away back in 2009.
Even though my mom is in assisted living I am still responsible for getting her medications, taking her to doctors appointments, helping when her tv isn’t working correctly, … It makes it very difficult to camp but we try to get out at least a couple of times a year.
I am no longer a caregiver, but was for 24 years! Now I can travel. I doubt many who are caregivers can travel and therefore not on this forum.
No I am not. But my hats off to those that do. We did a handicapped adult child for a year and it was overwhelming. Especially trying to help someone that didn’t want to help themselves. You need the compassion, understanding, guidance and forgiveness of God and a therapist for yourself.
I’m not anymore, but I was for 5 years. My husband developed dementia at age 53 and I took care of him until it became too difficult at which time I placed him in a long term care facility. That was the most difficult decision of my life. I remember packing up his things and thinking how surreal it was that he would never live with me again. So sad. He passed in 2018.
So sorry for your loss, Christine. Dementia is such a brutal disease, on everyone. I was my father’s caregiver for 5 years, as well, and he also was in a Care Facility when he passed in 2018.
Not a primary care giver but I do relieve my cousin now and then. Her mother, my dad’s sister was very involved in my youthful upbringing. My Aunt is 92 now and still somewhat active so the care giving is more making sure she does not fall, taking to appointments etc. For her next birthday the wife and I are surprising her with a trip to a casino and treating her to a filet mignon. Two of her favorite things.
Although I voted yes, I do not care for a relative, I do care for a homeless veteran.
I was for several years until my wife passed from lung cancer. She died 2 minutes after smoking her last cigarette.
So sorry for your loss, Bob.
I was until she died.