Caregivers

I attended the Alzheimer’s Conference today. Lots of talk about caregivers and caregiving. No matter what the disease or illness, no matter what the age of the care recipient, I see the obsession and distraction. Women talk of their husbands, mothers and fathers. They try music, massage, acupuncture and prayer. A panel of husbands caring for wives. That is poignant. A man cries. He is afraid to let her down by sending her to day care or a nursing home. He is supposed to be able to do this. He has to dress her and fasten her bra and fix her hair. It’s hard, so much harder than the word “caregiver” ever implies.