Nancy Tahara joins Barbara to talk about caring for her friend of 40 years. Now 81, he suffers from Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease, and REM sleep behavior disorder. He asked her to come take care of him a year-and-a-half ago, and she’s been his full-time caregiver ever since. Sadly, her friend’s condition is deteriorating quickly, both physically and cognitively. They just finished home health (physical therapy) but it didn’t help, so now they’ll start hospice. Nancy talks about how much she’s learned in her caregiving support groups – valuable advice, insight and support. She and Barbara also discuss how important it is for caregivers to get a break, and some of the options for finding help and getting through the tough times.

Do you have a caregiving story to share? Barbara would love to hear from you! Please call her at 310-362-8232 or email her through DementiaDiscussions.net.