Healthcare professionals should talk to caregivers and remind them that they need to take breaks. Anne ended up in the hospital after breaking down due to stress.

Transcript

And talk to the caretakers about finding time, or help them find time, that they can get away and get a break so they don’t have a breakdown. And the thing is, I realize too because my mother-in-law—oh no, my dad’s second wife, yeah—she had the exact same thing happen to her that happened to me. Because she ended up in the hospital and I asked her what happened and it was exactly the same thing. She just kind of had a stress breakdown because she was looking after my dad who was really sick; she had to keep taking him to the hospital and all this, and I think that happens to people quite often. They get to a point they’ve just had it, and that happens to them. And that caregiver… the professionals should talk to people about that kind of stuff—to watch out, what to watch out for, make sure that they take breaks every once in a while, and also maybe look at the family a bit closer to see that the kids don’t suffer because of all this…that they’re going through too. There’s so many levels to this thing, because I know it’s had an impact on my kids definitely.

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• When care changes over time – Anne
  Recently, Anne’s husband can barely make it into his wheelchair on his own. She is worried about what will come next.
• Uncovering how and why caregivers care – Anne
  Anne feels that she would not be able to live with herself, if her husband was in a facility.
• The future and caregiving – Anne
  Anne is worried about the day her husband can’t get into his wheelchair, but says, “What will happen will happen, there is nothing I can do about it.”
• Support from family and friends – Anne
  It was a real shock for Anne that her husband’s family disappeared.
• Interaction with professionals – Anne
  Anne is frustrated with the lack of care her husband receives, and no longer accompanies him to see the doctor.
• Impact on health – Anne
  The stress kept building until Anne was admitted to the hospital for a week.
• Caring for yourself – Anne
  Anne finds that reading certain books help her manage how she feels.
• Advice for professionals and society – Anne
  Healthcare professionals should talk to caregivers and remind them that they need to take breaks. Anne ended up in the hospital after breaking down due to stress.
• Advice for professionals and society – Anne
  Healthcare professionals should talk to caregivers and remind them that they need to take breaks. Anne ended up in the hospital after breaking down due to stress.
• Adapting to new roles and key issues for spouses – Anne
  Anne feels she has lost her marriage. “When somebody’s chronically ill, they don’t have the energy or the patience.”