AARP Caregiving Summer Break Contest

[AARPTeri]

Summertime often means taking breaks and planning vacations. Both of these can be a bit tricky while caring for a loved one.  Have you traveled with your loved one recently or are you planning to?  

Share your experience here and you will be entered in our Caregiving Summer Contest 2018 and could win one of the weekly $100 gift cards or a chance for the overall winning prize of $500 gift card. Your story may be advice or inspirational!

Review rules here:  https://community.aarp.org/t5/Caregiving/AARP-Caregiving-Summer-Break-Contest-2018/m-p/2023713#M67

[JuneB495244]

My favorite summer breaks involved taking my mom to the spa for day of pampering.  Calling ahead and making necessary arrangements is highly recommended, but we enjoy relaxing away from the house for a brief escape.

[jv3821135]

i agree

[TylerL934696]

I hope this is the place for my story. I clicked all around but cannot seem to find the 'appropriate' place for the contest but I could really use a break. I am the 'sandwich generation'. My parents had me very late in their life. My sister was 16 when I was born and my brother 13 years old then me. I am the sole care taker of my almost 96 year old Mom. My mom is the best. She is very kind, giving and loving. She moved to my town at 90 years young and gave up her car of which she drove around in her small town until then (it WAS time). She lives in her own condo but I maintain her house as well as mine. I have 15 year old and am married and lots of furry kids. While having a teenager, one might think that 'its easy' - well it is not. For the past 5 years, I have had to divide by time up between my son, my mom, my pets, my husband and my jobs. I never get a day off because even if I am off from my 'job', I still have my legally blind Mom to care for by doing her bills, taking her shopping, ironing, taking care of her dog, taking her to doctor appts after teaching all day long, etc. and this takes time, my time. Time is important to me - I am a 13 year Breast Cancer survivor and my husband had brain surgery the year before I was diagnosed - we both are fine (our son was 2-3 at the time). My Mom was the only one there for us thick and thin through our jouneys. I love her dearly and what I do is a 'labor of love' but I am 52 years old and tired. I have worked up to three jobs at one time all the WHILE doing for everyone else. My days start at 5:30 am and end sometimes as a late as 9:30 pm before I put my head down to go to bed. I sort of don't like this forum because it sounds like I am complaining and I know how lucky I am to STILL have my Mom. The family members all live 15 hours away and visit maybe, once a year. I would love a week to go away or weekend with my husband who is always like 5th on the list of 'things to do' (haha-spending time) and lately, I just feel old and run down. My husband and I have only had 4 weekend getaways since we were married 18 years ago. I don't feel like I own my life because of all the things I have to do for my mom. She can't afford to 'hire' an elder care helper - that's me. She has great neigbhors but she won't ask them to take her places - she'd rather wait until I get home from work taking me away from my family. My son is growing and he is growing away from me. After my Mom had been living in my town for two years, I picked my son up from school and he asked me in a dull tone of only a 4th grader can ask, 'where are we taking Nana today?'; I just want to go home Mom.' ... I just want to go someplace where I don't have to rush to hurry to get back to do something for someone else. I just want some time for me and not feel like I am on a schedule ALL OF THE TIME!!!! - Rush rush rush..to do for others but don't get to enjoy my life. This sounds horrible but I need a break.....Yet, I know in 4 years, my son God willing will be in college, my Mom could be gone or she'd be almost 99, and my horse gone (my therapy). LIfe is so fast, so quick, so desperate at time, so full of life yet so sad and tiring at others.

[kah172449]

I guess I am lucky, I don't have to take care of my mother in law.  Her health is still good and she is very independent; she only needs/wants assistance with yard work.

[CoolK829141]

I took my mom to the beach and we rented a beach wheel chair it was fun.

[MarkO791315]

My name is Mark, I am a student at the University of Arizona

[AnnabelM534103]

This vacation was a little different for me, I have my mom living with me. I’m been caring for her since couple years now. But also I just have a baby in May.

I am very happy to have her with me. I just amazed with all her wisdom. Love u mom.

[th7559]

Traveling as a caregiver is definately a challenge, but can also be very rewarding. We took my mother in law (she is a cancer survivor) to see the ocean. It was a dream she had always had.The look on her face was priceless.

[KiaraW844817]

Caregiving has become a way of life. It is important to me to take care of my husband who is sickly as well as my grandkids and my own kids who have convinced themselves the same is for me.   

[t519361h]

taking a break and relaxing for me is... my grandchildren

i can sit or hours just enjoying them and spending all the time I can wih them. I have 4 grandchildren who I love dearly 

[AshleyW333738]

my aunt is sick and theres nowhere for her to go here during theday makes me tired

[TimM775611]

Being a caregiver on vacation means the person with you needs a little assistance,but the important part is they can still enjoy life! A caregiver never forgets that priority #1 is caring,just remember you still have someone you are able to care for.

[BrandonS511559]

When my grandmother was alive we'd take her on vacations with us because she couldn't afford them she was very badly diabetic and lost one of her limbs before she passed away we would always take her to dollywood in pigeon forge, tn. I do miss my grandmother wish she was still here.

[CosetteD77150]

I am retired and currently caring for my inlaws who are both in their 80s. A nice vacation would be a wonderful break in the day to day routine. Winning the sweepstakes would be a blessing.

[HaroldF158079]

We spent time reading listening to music with our Granpparents our kids have been around them for several years and enjoy going there.  We do take breaks all the kids  grandkids care giver all take turns so we can enjoy the time we spend with them 

[ViktoriaL462291]

Hi CareGiver Community!

My mother is suffering from an incurable illness, and it is heartbreaking as she is fully cognitive but is severly limited in her movement, speech - and overall outward emotional responses most of the time.  We have though amazing caregivers you help, monitor, and take time out of their day to be with her, comfort her, and interact with her as much they can!

Especially in the summer, with the weather being nice out, we know she'd like to get out of her bed, that she's confined to - but it is challenging due to her immobility.  But my strong-headed mother knows that it's nice outside, so whe makes the effort to communicate that she would like to go outside - so amazingly enough with all the strength in her body, she'd muster up her energy to allow the caregivers to transfer her over to the wheelchair so she can go outside!  Its the little things like this that make caregivers such a blessing!

[j114367w]

Took my Mom to see my brother in Philly....we drove----she enjoyed the trip.

[TanyaS193973]

we are getting ready to do salmon fishing, here's to hoping that all goes well, and we don't have any incidents with mom.

[DannyA445958]

We will also have to get our player cards that morning of the tournament. You have to bring $10 in cash and your ID to get your card on Saturday morning. I am trying to find out more information about what time our first game is on Saturday. Just be sure you print out the the NTPSA form that I have attached and fill it out and bring $10 in cash. Hopefully I will get some more info today. If I do I will pass it along. Thanks. 

[JoseO796137]

Hi, I am a caretaker for my elderly aunt. It is nice to read other stories and feel like I am not alone in the struggle.

[ta45595584]

My husband and I are both in a new state, completely away from family but also taking care of my elderly father. It's a struggle just to run errands, let alone think about date nights or family vacations.

[Cakethis]

One of the last memories I have of my grandmother is when I made homemade cream puffs the night  hurricane Katrina hit. I thought it would be nice to have at least one thing we did not have to worry about (meaning breakfast). She was soo delighted to have the treat. I think she enjoyed them more than my kids did!

[JamesM283542]

we bring our loved one on vacation wiht us...its good for everyone

[cp8770869]

i use to be a caretaker for my aunt when her altimerz was getting bad. it brought me joy to know i was helping family but it was very draining at the same time. once a week i would take a break and reflect on the previous week by going on a day hike

[kurtiverson]

My mom's getting along great on her own in an assisted living facility where she has her own garden home.  The family helps out by organizing a generous visiting schedule so that there's never a time when too many weeks go by without some family influence.

[caitlinm238878]

I wish we could afford a vaccation 

[TimA429232]

Not only are we taking care of my wife's father but I also took a job out of state a year ago so we had to move away from the rest of our friends and family. We haven't had a date night or a family vacation in over a year. It's definitely hard but family comes first.

[KennethS14581]

Ive been this mans roommate since 1995 and we use to have wonderful conversations, went to computer convention's or sat out on our back porch reading. He began showing signs of  Alzheimer's disease about 8 years ago and urged him to see a neurologist, he didn't. He now wakes up all night crying for help and I have to go into his room to calm him, I have no down time and am getting very weary. I love the man and would never desert him but, I truly need some help! 

[MissusS]

I am currently planning a 6 day beach trip to see my kids and grandkids with my 84 year old mother and my 26 year old daughter. I made sure to get a condo right on the beach so she can relax on the balcony while the babies play on the beach and in the pool Mom has a very hard time walking so I made arrangements to get a wheelchair so she can enjoy the outings with all of her great grandchildren. I am really looking forward to having our 4 generations picture taken! 

[ab22579285]

i have never taken a real vacation in my life and all my stay cations i end up cleaning