Aww thank you Leslie! Dementia is especially hard. I’m so sorry. <3

Our podcast is called 2Sisters Speak: Surviving the Sandwich Generation. We’d love for you to join our conversation!

Oh Amber – Meg here. I’ll passing your note onto Marissa too. Just know that you aren’t alone. Does your mother have any other family that can participate in her care? It’s so hard. You can only do what you can do, you know? Can you get help from your 15 y/o? I will pray for you. — <3 M

I read every single word through tears as I am going through a very similar situation in life at the moment. I felt every word you spoke, every emotion you felt, every guilt you wrote about, it’s all there. Does it ever get easier? I haven’t found that part out yet. I have 2 boys, ages 6 and 15 and I am my mother’s caregiver. She is on hospice currently and has Parkinson’s Disease. My grandmother and I actually took care of her up until the end of February and my Meme fell and broke her hip while getting up in the middle of the night to tend to her. My Meme made it through surgery, arrived at the swing bed facility and then passed away on March 11, 2024. It literally killed me. I am an only child and the weight of the world fell on me. I was planning a funeral, taking care of my mother and moving her into my home, taking care of my kids and family and still trying to function in my everyday life. Most days I don’t know which way I am coming or going and I am not sure if I ever will find my normal again. The days are long and hard and I feel as though I need 10 of me at the moment. I continue to pray for guidance as I navigate this journey alone. I have researched and looked high and low but unfortunately cannot find any assistance or programs that are affordable and that also is very disheartening. My mother worked for over 40 years as a banker and now when she is down there is nothing or no one to give care to her but me and the hospice aides that come 2-3 times a week for about 15 min each day. Surely there has to be a better way. Praying and hoping.

Sincerely…one tired caregiver, daughter, wife, mama, friend and whomever I am when the day is left.

Xo-

Amber