For Caregivers, About Caregivers, By Caregivers

[Colleen]

My name is Colleen Fairbanks and I am a doctoral candidate at Indiana State University in the Counseling Psychology Program. I am currently working on my dissertation, looking at the amount of role strain experienced by adult child caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer's disease. If you are an adult child caring for a parent who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and would be willing to complete a 15 minute survey, my questionnaire is available through the Indiana State University’s webpage at http://webforms.indstate.edu/Counseling-Fairbanks. Upon accessing the website, you must click on “add a response” to begin filling out the questionnaire. All completed questionnaires will be kept confidential. Thank you for your participation.

[sharx6]

Colleen, I have just completed your questionnaire even though my 99 year old mother does not have an Alzheimer's diagnosis. She does have severe dementia and short term memory loss but just has never been through the diagnostic process of identifying Alzheimer's. I have worked in an Alzheimer's unit at a long term care facility and see many similarities in her behaviou. So I completed your questionnaire. I believe my reactions would be the same with an official diagnosis.
Completing the questionnaire was a positive exercise because it made me think about what bothers me and why. Thank you for your interest.
Sharon L

[cherokee1378]

I am 53 years of age, an only child. I have a step-sister and step-brother.
I am caring for my mother, who is 84 years old and has alzheimers and parkinsons disease and also my stepfather who has cancer is sufferring from kidny failure and congestive heart failure. My step-bother is not availabale to help with his father and my step-sister takes him ot the doctor occassionally. I love my parents, but I am just about at the end of the road. Just need someone to talk to, before I lose my own sanity. Which of course I can't afford to do.
My wife has been wonderful through all this. We left our kids and grandkids 4 years ago in South Carolina and came to Ga. to care for my parents. She works fulltime and I care for my parents on a full time basis.
In spite of this, we are both about at our wits end.
Help!!!!!

[jcava]

Hi Cherokee1378,

I'm writing a story for Cure, a cancer-care publication, on adult children cargiving for both parents and stepparents ill with cancer and other diseases and I saw your post from several years ago. I was wondering if you would be interested in being interviewed for the story. If you are, please contact me at jcava15579@aol.com.

Thank you so much for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,
Jo Cavallo