Accepting that I cannot care for my husband and my home all by myself has been a journey. I have always been very capable, I come from a do-it-yourself background. My father could do anything with duct tape and my mother never spent a penny on home maintenance. I suspect it drives my husband crazy at times. As I began taking over the tasks he had always done, my load became heavier and heavier. It was difficult for me to understand why I couldn’t do it all. That is when my fellow CarePartners came to the rescue.

We were all in similar situations, however most of them were smart enough to realize their limitations. One talked about having someone take care of her lawn, another spoke of having a cleaning service. A third talked about the wonderful handyman she had found who was able to do just about anything for them. It finally dawned on me that by trying to do it all myself I was only creating a more stressful and dangerous home environment. It was time for me to stop being so stubborn and start reaching out to find the help I needed.

My husband’s team consists of a lot of medical professionals and me. He needs their input and support and my help connecting all the dots. My team, on the other hand, is finally beginning to form up and consists of a landscaper, a contractor or handyman, an arborist. My husband’s team provides support for his daily living activities, my team provides support for our home. Of course, my team also consists of my family and fellow CarePartners who help keep me sane, but that is a story for another day.