Some Alzheimer’s caregivers that granted me an interview called themselves 24/7 caregivers and I guess they can themselves what they want, but nope, not with me. If we’re gonna talk about this stuff, let’s do it right, right? Some caregivers labeled themselves 24/7 because they were concerned about a patient all the time. But while they were concerned, they continued to go fishing, see a movie, go on vacation and so forth. Now come on folks . . .
Some that labeled themselves 24/7 were just that, but later would tell me it was sometimes for as little as 5 days a month. Even 5 days can be difficult, but . . .
There were a lot of caregivers that were with the patient all day, every day and rarely had time off. Most of those interviews were conducted in their home with the patient there with us, or we would be beside the road, with the patient in the car.
To me, the real 24/7 caregiver with very limited resources needs to be heard. Ah, but they don’t have time for that. They cut back for themselves on their food, their medication and sometimes live with stuff like incontinence, violence and family breakups alone, by themselves, no support. Just the caregiver and someone with limited or no memory.
That’s who we need to hear about, not the poor husband that is forced to fly to Europe, for a vacation, by himself. Sure, they hurt too, but lawmakers may not see a need their.
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