Dementia caregiving doesn’t just isolate—it exiles. What begins in love and loyalty often ends in silence, as friends and family quietly withdraw. The caregiver becomes a social ghost, avoided not out of malice, but out of fear—because long-term suffering, in our culture, is treated like something contagious.
(Note: About Us, a reference bibliography, related books, videos and apps can be found at the end of this article.)
As a senior care advocate, I am often asked—sometimes in passing, sometimes in desperation—“What can I do to help alleviate the stress and anxiety of caregiving?” But it is nearly always asked with a note of resignation, signalling a sense of hopelessness.
The question is never theoretical. It comes from people who are exhausted, emotionally frayed, and too often on the verge of collapse. It’s asked by those who love deeply but feel like they’re being slowly hollowed out in the process.
What I offer here isn’t theory. It’s what I’ve researched, tested, and lived over a 13-year caregiving journey of my own. These practices didn’t erase the pain, but they gave me the ability to keep showing up, not out of obligation, but with presence and clarity.
You don’t need a program or a guru. What you need are practical tools to stay emotionally upright in the face of something that is both beautiful and brutal. This article represents my sincere effort to present practical and actionable steps to help alleviate stress.
(Note: About Us, a reference bibliography, related books, videos and apps can be found at the end of this article.)
