Side view of elderly woman washing hands under running tap

I am 71 years old and have been taking care of my 36 year old daughter who was born with Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome since her birth. She can’t walk or talk and is only fed via g-tube feedings.

And for the last year my husband, who helped care for our daughter, needs help with bathing and dressing. He has CHF, COPD, Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and diabetic foot ulcers. He can still manage taking his medications including insulin.

I love them both so much and they are both very sweet and happy and that makes taking care of them possible but difficult.

We have caregivers that come into our home to help with my daughter but it is still just me getting up at night to change diapers and reposition her.

With COVID-19, I have cancelled the caregivers because I need to protect my husband and daughter.

Tired 71 year old caregiver

Written by Guest Author
The Caregiver Space accepts contributions from experts for The Caregiver's Toolbox and provides a platform for all caregivers in Caregiver Stories. Please read our author guidelines for more information and use our contact form to submit guest articles.

Related Articles

Popular categories

Finances
Burnout
After Caregiving
Housing
Relationships
Finding Meaning
Planning
Dying
Finding Support
Work
Grief

Don't see what you're looking for? Search the library

Share your thoughts

0 Comments

Share your thoughts and experiences

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Join our communities

Whenever you want to talk, there’s always someone up in one of our Facebook communities.

These private Facebook groups are a space for support and encouragement — or getting it off your chest.

Join our newsletter

Thoughts on care work from Cori, our director, that hit your inbox each Monday morning (more-or-less).

There are no grand solutions, but there are countless little ways to make our lives better.

Share your insights

Caregivers have wisdom and experience to share. Researchers, product developers, and members of the media are eager to understand the nature of care work and make a difference.

We have a group specifically to connect you so we can bring about change.