There’s more to our relationship than 18 years of marriage and each of us living with Multiple Sclerosis.
We also are in a caregiving relationship. Jennifer is my primary caregiver, and I am hers.
We were so humbled and honored that Healthline Media connected with us and included our caregiving story in its three-part Taking Care video series.
Join us for this episode of A Couple Takes on MS Podcast as we discuss what the experience was like to have film crews from NYC and Detroit arrive at our home in Michigan to capture our day-to-day realities and explore why caregiving is the story that must be told.
All in all, being a family caregiver is a double-edged sword that can be both a blessing and a burden, and we went into our marriage knowing what we were facing. Or did we? There is so much to being a caregiver.
And we are not alone in this experience. According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the past year, 65.7 million Americans (or 29% of the adult U.S. adult population involving 31% of all U.S. households) served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled relative.
Reports also indicated that 24.4% of adults aged 45 to 64 years are caregivers compared to 18.8% of adults aged 65 years and older. One in four (25.4%) women are caregivers compared to one in five (18.9%) men.
Here are the links we referenced for you to follow up on:
• Healthline presents Taking Care – Healthline’s three-part series that includes stories about caregiving relationships within the Alzheimer’s, breast cancer and the MS (that’s us!) communities.
• caregiving.com – Comprehensive online caregiving resource for which Dan serves as a Caregiving Champion.
• 14 resources for family caregivers to make managing it all less stressful – Insightful article posted on care.com.