I Feel Very Frustrated and Angry

Tonight has been very difficult for me. She's been walking to the kitchen window and back to the living room windows for almost one hour. I've tried every trick and diversion to get her to just sit down. I could hear her breathing hard and there is nothing I can do. I'm trying my best to get her into her nightly routine of brushing her teeth, washing her face and getting her dressed which generally takes almost two hours. Tonight will be a three-hour routine. She is just so stubborn tonight. I had to just walk away and yell at the top of my lungs. It’s true that most caregivers will probably die before their love ones. Tonight has been one of those nights when I just don’t have the will power and patience to continue this 5-year journey. God, please help me.

How Can We Help Our Nation's Caregivers?

The Parade Magazine issue in our Sunday Paper September 9, 2007 had a great article by Gail Sheehy, How Can We Help Our Nation's Caregivers?

AARP Scholarship Program for Women Caregivers

Here is an announcement from AARP about their Scholarship Program... for caregiving women over 40 years of age.The AARP Foundation has announced a new scholarship program for low-income women 40+ to participate in education and training opportunities. Two of the eligible categories are: Women returning tothe workforce after an extended absence (such as caregiving) and grandmothers or other relatives caring for relative children whodepend upon them financially. Approximately 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 are expected to be awarded in the firstround. The process opens August 31; deadline is October 31, 2007.Detailed information and applications are available on-line atwww.aarp.org/womensscholarship. For additional information regarding the scholarship program contact:AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program c/o Scholarship Program Administrators, Inc.P.O. Box 23737 Nashville TN 37202-3737Fax (615) 320-3151www.aarp.org/womensscholarship (Access Key: AFWSP)

Why is AARP Limiting Their Caregiver Scholarships to Women Only?

As Caregiver Guy, I have to ask AARP why are they limiting their Caregiver scholarships to women only. I met a guy at a coffee shop in Orinda, California and we found that we had something in common. We were both caregivers. He's been taken care of his father by himself for almost five years until his father's recent death. As a 54-year old former salesman, he's having great difficulty finding a job in today's market and taken care of his father's medical bills.

I do understand that the majority of caregivers are women and perhaps their needs are greater but why are they limiting the program to women?

Caregiver Guy
caregiverguy@gmail.com

AARP Response to Scholarship Question

CareGivers Nationwide,

I would like to thank all the CareGivers nationwide, Women and Men, for their responses and support of my question to the AARP's Scholarship program. I would also like to thank AARP for their response and understanding. It is my hope that the entire FAMILY share the Emotional, Physical and Financial demands of Day-to-Day CAREGIVING SUPPORT of our love ones.

Here's AARP's response:

"Thank you for your interest in the AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Fund. It is a new program that just launched last month. The foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all as we age. We lead positive social change and deliver value to those 50 and older with emphasis on those at social and economic risk. Women are 75 percent of the elderly poor and our goal with this new scholarship is to help secure the future of as many women as we can. While the scholarship is primarily for women, gender is one factor in consideration, as is age. Those 40+ who are women meet two of the established criteria for the scholarship. Other criteria include: those raising grandchildren or another family members’ children, those who have been out of the workforce for a long period and those who are in dead-end jobs. All of the criteria will be considered in awarding the scholarships. If you feel that you meet several of the criteria, please feel free to apply. Additionally, please check out the AARP Foundation’s Public Benefits Outreach programs at http://www.aarp.org/money/lowincomehelp/quicklink/ for more information about programs to assist caregivers, as well as benefits that are aimed at helping people like you. We hope that you will find our programs useful.

Deborah Briceland-Betts National Director, Women's Programs

Thank you AARP and Deborah

CareGiver Guy, Email; caregiverguy@gmail.com