Caring for a Spouse

I'm Marlis Powers—caregiver, grandmother, cancer-survivor. I care for my husband, Charlie, who has dementia. I'll be sharing my perspectives as a spousal caregiver with the AgingCare community through an ongoing series of blog posts.

Losing a spouse often causes negative changes in personality: grumpiness, sorrow, depression and a complete lack of gratitude.

When a senior has dementia, celebrating holidays, birthdays and other special occasions becomes increasingly complicated. I found that, especially on Valentine's Day, helping my parents honor their years of love and marriage did serve a purpose.

The death of one parent often exposes the care needs of the surviving spouse. Unfortunately for many adult children, the funeral of one parent becomes a time for planning for the long-term care of the surviving parent.

As Alzheimer's disease progresses, your loved one may need more care than you can provide. Your options range from home health care and adult day care, to assisted living and nursing homes with specialized Alzheimer's care units.

The prevalence of male caregivers has increased significantly in the last decade, yet the amount of support available for them is considerably less than that for female caregivers.