Diary of a Caregiver

About the Book

In 2009, my wife of over fifty-eight years was diagnosed with dementia with Alzheimer’s symptoms. My caregiving responsibilities began before that time and continued until her death in January 2018. She was provided care in her own home. As time went by, the caregiver duties became more and more demanding. It was truly twenty-four hours each day and seven days each week. My sweetheart was referred to the hospice program as a patient beginning in 2013 with a life expectancy of six months or less. At the time of her passing, she had been a hospice patient for four years, eleven months, and five days. The Diary of a Caregiver begins with her entry into the hospice program and continues until her death. Caregiving can be very frustrating at times as one never knows what to expect or when to expect it. The Diary of a Caregiver identifies many of the problems and frustrations associated with care of a dementia patient. It also identifies different techniques and solutions to some of those problems. It should be of interest to anyone who is involved in caregiving, especially those who are just beginning.

About the Author

Rex T. Young was raised on a family farm in Eastern Idaho. He entered the military at an early age and retired in 1995 at the rank of Colonel. He was a graduate of the U. S. Army War College. He married his wife, Marla, in 1958 and they were the parents of three sons. He is retired and resides in their home of 47 years in Meridian, Idaho. His wife was diagnosed with Dementia in 2009 and he began writing his Diary of a Caregiver at that time. She was referred to the hospice program in 2013 and remained a patient for 4 years 10 months. He continued to care for her in their home until her death in 2018. His greatest accomplishment was providing loving care to his Sweetheart during her illness.