Ilene from California

My name is Ilene, 77, and I am the caregiver for my husband Walter, 96. I started taking care of him 5 years ago. I take him to the doctors, clean up messes he makes, help him get dressed, give him medicine, I check on him several times a night, and do not get enough sleep myself. He also has some sight issues as well and arthritis in his hand and needs help dressing. I can't find a place for myself in my home as he seems to need my attention just when I am going to the potty or trying to get dressed myself. He yells sometimes and that is difficult to take. I am doing everything, paying the bills, food shopping, doing the laundry without much help. I am getting some medical issues myself and sometimes can't go to my doctor because he needs to go to his first. I have gone from a wife to a caregiver and no one in my family seems to understand how hard it is.