The Imperfect Caregiver

Dr. Phil, I challenge you to use your huge resources and the Dr. Phil Foundation to develop a program of grants to help caregivers follow your advice to accept help, rest, and take care of themselves so they can continue to care for those they love so much that they are willing to sacrifice their health to for them. Respite care is vital for caregivers and you can help provide it.

On May 30, 2015 I issued the challenge above to Dr. Phil to provide real help for caregivers instead of the same old advice to rest, eat right, exercise, take time to herself and not feel guilty that he told a young caregiver on the Dr. Phil Show on May 26th.

While only two responses appear in the message box on that initial post, I received many more via email and I will be posting them a few at a time so their voices are heard.

Please share these blog posts with as many people as possible and encourage them to do the same. There is strength in numbers and ours are growing every day.

Dr. Phil, Caregivers need help!

Jennifer Bailey – Comment: This woman is under as much stress as the people dealing with abuse- the abused never knows when he or she may be hit next, and on guard when the abuser is near, but the caretaker has to care for someone, worry at the things they see going wrong in front of their eyes… and when we are gone we have to wonder if those things are happening. Even when we have respite care you worry because the person does not know your loved one as well, and because they are alone with a person and often either helpless or have the potential to become violent when confused. We sleep when the loved one is safe, and often wake up to any small sound, like a parent of a small child. We eat when we can in our tasks, and for many of us it’s what we can afford after limiting our work hours to care for the person. Platitudes and the advice on every caregiver’s website do not help us.

Susan house – Comment: We need help usually only one person steps up to care for their loved one but boy everyone else has a lot of advice..there is no help there is no relief unless you have lots of money to spend..my husband and I would love to go in a vacation and know my mom was safe and cared for but can’t afford $15per hour x 24hrs x however many days I’m 59 yrs old my husband is 60 if mom lives 10 more years what if those are the best ten my husband and I have left..because with the stress of taking care of my mom whom I love and will care for until I can’t..May be that stress will kill me..sometimes you just need a break you just need to breathe you just need to…..and there’s no affordable help and how do u know if you hire someone that they will treat your loved one they way they should.there are no regulations to assure this its hire at your own risk and pay crazy money to a person who may not care..yes Dr Phil the number of people caring for dementia people is enough to blow your mind and more everyday and younger everyday there’s no cure no help no relief. You have to look at a shell of your loved one everyday. I pray my mom has a heart attack. Or gets cancer..something that will take her fast and soon..it’s quality of life not quantity..I don’t want her to not know me..my dad died from Parkinson’s and if I get sick I’d rather have dad’s disease any day to this…please help up we are everywhere nationwide. Crying everyday for the loss of our loved ones and all we have is a Alzheimer’s dementia page where we all go to share and vent and look for support..from each other..no one care about the millions of loved ones and the caregivers..no one wants to see what we struggle with everyday..just pray it never happens to you or someone you love because you will end up just like us with no one to turn to…am I a horrible daughter because I tuck my mom in bed every night and tell her I love her and then go and pray please God take her tonight!! And if he does I will find her in the morning and beg him to bring her back cause life without her seems unbearable..and then I realize she’s almost already gone

Vixen Brumback  – Comment: Please show more consern for caregivers.

Basia  – Comment: Please provide additional support for caregivers.

Jean Ostrom -Comment: I would love to be able to exercise regularly.  I haven’t had a full-night sleep in over a year.  I haven’t gone to a movie, a concert or gone shopping with my friends.  People keep telling me I have to take care of myself, but that is impossible when I am ALWAYS taking care of my husband.

Debbie Dunlap – Comment: I am a caregiver as well. We need help. Have the best insurance but so many rules it does us no good. However if my Dad was in Welfare we would have had help yesterday. Not a fair system

Audrey Besser – Comment: I care for my mother-in-law.  I would be willing to brain storm a way to start a support group to help each other’s household to let caregivers have there needed rest and relax time, including sharing adult care .  Yes disappointed about the lack of support by family & society.

Joanne Gerrard –Comment: Caregivers need the help and support and respite that gives them the help they need to give the care their loved one needs.

Margaret Smith – Comment: Caring for others is a challenge. We could use help at times.

Sherie Lynn Anderson – Comment: I support the challenge.

 R F – Comment: As the mother of a 15 year old son with autism I wholeheartedly identify with this article.  Being a caregiver is mentally and physically demanding.  The caregiver is often isolated with little to no support from family and friends. Cheap advice is easy to shell out.  People don’t know and they don’t want to know.

 Note: I have not made any changes or corrections to these posts. They appear exactly as written.  Individual email addresses are not included. However, I have the original posts and can provide them to Dr. Phil and/or the Dr. Phil Foundation on request.

Contact Dr. Phil:

Dr. Phil Foundation  – http://drphilfoundation.org/

The Dr. Phil Show http://www.drphil.com/

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