Was wondering how other caregivers find a week or 2 for vacation?

You know what? I highly doubt that anyone "finds" it. You have to make it. You have to carve it out. You have to fight for it. You have to accept that it may seem like more work than it is worth. But getting away for vacations is essential to our well being.

Some of us are lucky enough to have willing (if not always eager) family to provide respite care so we can get away. This hardly ever drops into our laps out of the blue, initiated by the family member. Gotta ask, gotta plan ahead, gotta schedule. Maybe even gotta make some payments, such as for transportation. Whatever it takes ... and it usually takes work on our part.

Others use professional respite care services. Locating such services, checking them out, scheduling time there is work, and paying for them greatly increases the cost of a vacation. (The cost should come out of the loved ones' funds, if such funds exist.)

I just returned from taking my husband (dementia) on a 7-day cruise. I need a vacation! I'll be interested what others have to say on this issue, too.