by Rex T. Young (Author)
In 2009, my wife of over fifty-eight years was diagnosed with dementia with Alzheimers symptoms. My caregiving responsibilities began before that time and continued until her death in January 2018. She was provided care in her own home. As time went by, the caregiver duties became more and more demanding. It was truly twenty-four hours each day and seven days each week. My sweetheart was referred to the hospice program as a patient beginning in 2013 with a life expectancy of six months or less. At the time of her passing, she had been a hospice patient for four years, eleven months, and five days. The Diary of a Caregiver begins with her entry into the hospice program and continues until her death. Caregiving can be very frustrating at times as one never knows what to expect or when to expect it. The Diary of a Caregiver identifies many of the problems and frustrations associated with care of a dementia patient. It also identifies different techniques and solutions to some of those problems. It should be of interest to anyone who is involved in caregiving, especially those who are just beginning.