Caregiving For My Wife
You’ve lived side by side for many years. You may have made plans for the future, and have looked forward to enjoying time together through retirement. But suddenly things have changed. You may be asking yourself “How will I begin caregiving for my wife”? Here are 5 things to consider as you move into a new phase of your life. 
1. Start by getting organized. There are always key things that each of you does within your home. Create lists of accounts, home accounts, service providers, and daily tasks. Make sure you become aware of everything your wife does so you can step in and take on some of the responsibilities.
2.Think about your own future. An ill spouse can quickly use up savings and retirement funds if you aren’t careful. Work with financial and insurance experts that can help you take care of your wife in the best possible manner now, and prepare for your own future as well.
3. Get help. For many spouses, they’ve always been together and can’t envision anyone else helping out with the daily tasks. But the quickest way to go into overwhelm is to attempt to do it all yourself. Hire out things like a lawn care service, even if you’ve always done it. Find an in home care giver to help with every day chores. Adding even a few hours per month can give you time to do other more important things.
4. Take care of your own health. Don’t ignore the trips to the gym or the doctor’s offices. It’s more important than ever for you to stay in top shape. An in-home caregiver can provide you with the time to attend a class at the local recreation center, and can even help you cook and provide nutritious meals for you and your wife.
5. Set up a network of support. Don’t hide your wife’s condition, or take on all the responsibilities yourself. Have friends and family within your community available for you to call even at a moments notice. The more they understand the situation, the easier it will be to call when you have small emergencies arise.
