Content starts here
CLOSE ×
Search
Reply
Community Manager
Community Manager

How do you handle boredom as a caregiver?

Have you experienced boredom as a caregiver?  What do you do to help?

 

Here are some tips from our expert Dr. Barry Jacobs, https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2018/tips-for-caregiver-boredom.html and we would love to hear from you.

AARPTeri
13,639 Views
8
Report
Contributor

I am bored out of my mind.  I worked my whole life except for the last 4 yrs moving to Phoenix and fixing up our house.  My husband has serious illnesses but is basically OK. He’s one of those people who wont ask the doctor any questions as if they’re God. I could handle the lunacy of that plus finding the most qualified doctors, researching the disorders and drugs if I have a life of my own.  I am up for a telecommuting job, but whatever, I’d better work while I still can.  I have taught him to shop andhe knows how to cook.

Phoenix Rising
0 Kudos
11,128 Views
1
Report
AARP Expert


@Val37 wrote:

I am bored out of my mind.  I worked my whole life except for the last 4 yrs moving to Phoenix and fixing up our house.  My husband has serious illnesses but is basically OK. He’s one of those people who wont ask the doctor any questions as if they’re God. I could handle the lunacy of that plus finding the most qualified doctors, researching the disorders and drugs if I have a life of my own.  I am up for a telecommuting job, but whatever, I’d better work while I still can.  I have taught him to shop andhe knows how to cook.


I'm glad he's basically okay. If passive. So i take it you can't leave him alone, which is why telecommuting makes sense? One of the things i really appreciate about aarp is how much information they have about finding employment for us folks over 50. Have you check out some of the info? Including jobs from home: https://www.aarp.org/work/job-search/part-time-jobs/    You sound smart, if stir crazy.

 

can you afford some home health aide care so you can get out some? are there groups in phoenix for people in your field? the local aarp office might have suggestions. then see what he cooks for you both while you're gone!

 

tell us what you end up doing, eh?

Jane

0 Kudos
11,031 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

My wife has crohns and R/A and sleeps quite a bit.  I took up researching ancestry to while away the empty hours.  I'm researching 6 lines of ancestry which can be confusing at times but keeps me sane.  I use Ancestry.com and InstantCheckMate.com for research resources as well as state and local sites.

0 Kudos
12,839 Views
0
Report
Newbie

My wife was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia a year ago, but has been symptomatic for the past six years. She is incapable of independent living and I am her sole caregiver. Right now the caregiving burden isn't too overwhelming but I can't leave her alone for more than an hour or two during the day, and never at night. My answer to pending boredom was to buy myself a bread machine! I spend a lot of my free time making bread, and more recently muffins and pizza. Adjusting and tweaking recipes so they will work at 8000 feet above sea level keeps my mind active and I can't wait to try something new. Obviously baking isn't for everyone, and certainly no novelty for most, but my point is find yourself something that will occupy your mind, something you can lose yourself in even if only for a few hours a day. I know the day will come when caring for my wife will occupy all of my time, and take all of my energy, but in the meantime I intend to embrace this new and contrained lifestyle and live every day as best I can.

0
Kudos
6826
Views
13,141 Views
0
Report
Contributor

I suggest things like a walk, playing cards. Always bring something to read or do. Caregiving is being present, knowing when to give space 

Does anyone have tip on getting an individual to bathe regularly . My client has althiemers- no real short memory but good recall of things from past

0 Kudos
13,260 Views
0
Report
Honored Social Butterfly


@AARPTeri wrote:

Have you experienced boredom as a caregiver?  What do you do to help?

 

Here are some tips from our expert Dr. Barry Jacobs, https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2018/tips-for-caregiver-boredom.html and we would love to hear from you.


BOREDOM ??????

 

That's a condition which I don't remember as a caregiver - I remember being tired, depressed, sometimes a little frantic - but never boredom.  But since I seemed to have my hands full with a husband on hospice (at home), with a last request to participate in our daughters wedding and a deaf, partially blind mother who was being released from rehab after breaking her hip and I was begging the rehab center to keep her just a few more days - plus all the other day to day stuff (self-employed) - who had time to be bored.  I doubt if I would have even recognized it, if there was any room for it in my life at the time.

 

Guess it just all depends on the nature, the amount of hands-on-ness and extreme of the "caregiving".

 

 

It's Always Something . . . . Roseanna Roseannadanna
13,485 Views
0
Report
Conversationalist

I use to get in a car and drive my husband around the island, we lived on Oahu. Most times he slept, the motion of the car helped him to sleep.  I on the hand, looked out at the beautiful flowers waving to me.  I smiled.  I passed the deep blue oceans and longed to jump in and tumble and tumble, rolling along the waves and fish.  I smiled and looked at him and he slept peacefully.

When, he woke up,we stopped at a small cafe and ordered and drove to the beach.  The old  ironwoods swayed in the breeze and we both felt like we were part of the wind, intertwining with beach and ourselves.  Let's do this again, he said.  I feel so wonderful here, so peaceful.  It will be our adventure!

13,491 Views
1
Report
Trusted Contributor

Your post brought me to tears. You truly love your soulmate.

You touched us all. The journey of life continues. You made today special.

4
Kudos
20069
Views
13,398 Views
0
Report
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Users
Need to Know

"I downloaded AARP Perks to assist in staying connected and never missing out on a discount!" -LeeshaD341679

AARP Perks

More From AARP