Today, caregiver guilt is a common theme for many individuals who devote themselves to caring for a loved one in need. Caregiver guilt can manifest itself in different ways, but typically comes from a common source – the feeling that you are not doing enough to care for your loved one or you are not doing it well enough.
Not surprisingly, adult children with aging parents in memory care frequently have anxiety and questions about visiting their loved ones. Common concerns include: Will mom/dad even know who I am? What should I say? Do my visits have any value? How often should I visit mom/dad in memory care?
Busy, sometimes overwhelmed family caregivers are often called the “invisible victims” or the “second victims” of Alzheimer’s disease. However, this description can also apply to any family caregiver whose days are consumed with caring for a loved one and whose labor of love places them at risk of caregiver burnout.
Recent researchby the US Department of Health & Human Services projects that most seniors age 65 or older will need long-term care at some point in their lives. As noted by the long-term care experts at the Mayo Clinic®, “If
