The Imperfect Caregiver

                                                           Bobbi, Gregor, Erica

When I started The Imperfect Caregiver blog I did it because I had felt so very alone during the time I was caring for Rodger.  There didn’t seem to be anyone I could talk to who could possibly understand how hard it is to do this.  It is also why I decided to write the book, Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver. It was my hope that in writing about what it’s really like I could send a message to caregivers everywhere that someone does know. I am here and I do understand. I feel the emotions that course through you on the good days and the bad days. And there are so many bad days as the diseases progress and those in our care slip away memory by memory, piece by piece.

As I reach out to people in the caregiving world online and in person, the caregivers and those who write about caregiving, I am blessed to meet some amazing people and learn their stories. The more I hear from you and them, the more I learn and am able to share here and in the books to come.

Last week my husband and I traveled to New York City to see a staged reading of The Accidental Caregiver, a play based on the book by the same name, written by Gregor Collins. His story of caring for Maria Altman is vastly different than my story and, having read the book and seen the play, I imagine it is very different than that of yours as well.  They met as strangers and came to love one another as family, she in her 90s, and he in his 30s.  A unique story for sure.

The trip also provided and opportunity for me to finally meet in person another caregiver who bravely shares her story. I met Erica Herd online during the time I was completing Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver. Erica is a caregiver for her mother who is in a care facility. She is the author and solo performer of the play, Alzheimer’s Blues. Imagine reliving your story in front of audience over and over again. How brave and special that is.

I am grateful to have them as friends and proud to introduce you to them here.

Caregivers, your story is important. Please feel free to share some of your here.  And please, help ,e help you and others by adding your pleas to mine as I challenge Dr. Phil to use his resources and the Dr. Phil Foundation to establish grants to help caregivers most in need.

To Contact Dr.Phil and add your voice to mine click on the links below.

http://drphilfoundation.org/

http://www.drphil.com/

@DrPhil

https://www.facebook.com/drphilshow?fref=ts