by Janine Culotta

Created on: June 13, 2009   Last Updated: July 12, 2009

Caring for a person with special needs such as Dementia, Alzheimer's, or even Autism a difficult challenge..particularly in a day and age when many people respect wealth more than care-giving. It is hard enough for families to have a full-time parent in the home for a child when they have special needs or are an an ailing parent, it is nearly impossible. Many in our society are unforgiving of people who are disabled. If you are not the best, brightest, or richest..you are not always treated equally. Lower that a notch when speaking of care-giving.

Care-giving disabled people can become exacerbated when coping with families and friends who live "normal" lives. Many times families and friends are oblivious to the circumstance that disabled affected families are up against. and may not even care to understand. Not only are care-givers compromised financially, they must account for all kinds of other variables so called "normal" families wouldn't even consider.

The question comes to mind..when does the care-giver ever get a break? Answer...rarely. Parents and car-givers rarely get the time they so deservingly need, to relax and take time off of the ever consuming job of care-giving. Vacations are far and few between. It is shocking to me that there remains a certain prejudice toward families of the disabled. Due to the competitive nature of our culture, the care giver has been thrown under the bus, people can be selfish, unkind, and even abusive at times, so negligent and cruel that they would take advantage of a unsuspecting family, carrying the burden of a disabled parent or child. Disabled people and their care-givers remain targets to predators.

Care-givers are people who must help lead others into healthy situations. In this culture, church relationships, health care providers, and school professionals are the most caring of those individuals who have been designated to train and guide the most needy of our population. Families and friends can be supportive to an extent; however, they will never fully understand the sacrifice of the care-giver. The all-inclusive church is the best place where a care provider can feel honored and cared about. It is a difficult situation to have to bear,knowing a loved one is in peril and needs constant care and you are the only one who can provide the necessary support. Having someone come in and help for a day or two so that you, the care giver ,can take care of yourselve is probably the best solution. Spend the day at a spa, or in nature on a fishing trip. This may help reinvorgorate you the care-giver.

Learn more about this author, Janine Culotta.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.