Probably the most difficult question a caregiver asks themselves is…am I doing enough?

What makes this a particularly tricky question is that there is really no way to gauge it. Every “patient” will have different needs, and each caregiver will have different resources. One of the dangers is that most caregivers do not have a chance to determine their available resources or do any kind of planning before their role as caregiver begins. Often, the rollercoaster ride begins when a sudden health “event” occurs. This can be a heat-attack, stroke, fall, or the onset of an illness such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. The path after that can be a domino effect of successive events that don’t allow much time for planning, or catching one’s breath.

Here is where the danger begins…and I speak from unfortunate experience. By the time most people recognize that they are over-extending themselves, they are already running on fumes and the damage to one’s personal health has probably already begun. And if you are not careful, this damage can extend to your work and relationships.

…to be continued