Caregivers and Stress

[MsTinkerbelly]

Originally Posted by Kelt

Whew! Taxes.

Just short of a year ago in a huge karmic swipe, my father died on tax day. You had to know him to get that, but to say it was ironic is a major understatement in a Monty Python kind of way...

Today the E-file happened, 7 federal and 2 state tax returns filed and the only one of them that needed a 90 day extension (estate) was also completed. While I'm no accountant, I was the one who rescued the three carloads of paperwork and brought it all back to my place for sorting so that I could spend the last six months looking for and providing the answers to the endless stream of questions from 3 accounting firms.

I can breathe again.

Well, for a month or so anyway. There are other legal things afoot, but for me this was the big day, I couldn't stand the though of a bunch of extensions dragging this out forever and it actually got done!

I know it doesn't really sound like a caregiver stress, but this was background music to a host of issues with my mother's practical needs and the fact that she has both dementia and now cancer too; an interesting mix since she keeps forgetting she has cancer. For the best I suppose. I'm on a
learning curve with each passing month or so presenting a new puzzle to solve. What has she forgotten to do? How do I fix that from where I am? Does she even know she forgot how to do something? Or, did she just stop doing it?

I'm incredibly lucky in that I have found some really good "on ground" caregiver help and her RN is in a position to hire and manage other care providers to spot changes and help her with things that need helping with. (An ever changing menu)

I dunno where this is going... I'm just glad the taxes are done and Mom is

safe.

You have accomplished so much in a year!

The fact that your mother has been safe and well cared for is nothing short of amazing given your grief, the heavy load of paperwork, new home ownership and the logistical nightmare of doing it all many miles from your mother.

I hope you don't mind, but you are always in my prayers...comfort and strength in all you have to do are my focus.