LARRY SOSNOW: The advice that we would give to that spouse in becoming a caregiver is to get help from her pastor, from a confidant, from some type of professional counselor that can just give her some focus and center to the experience of witnessing a spouse in decline, to be able to accept that and, at the same time, provide the necessary care, whatever that care's involved.
CAREGIVER: I have very strong feelings that it would be very helpful to have a spouse support group.
Another piece of advice I would have would be don't sit home all the time. See your friends, see your family, do the activities that you used to do to the best of your ability, but don't stay home without taking care of your own needs.
ANNNOUNCER: Caring for a spouse can be a rich and rewarding experience. But it is also a tremendous responsibility. And it's not something that a spouse should feel obligated to do.
LARRY SOSNOW: It's not preordained that people have to be a family caregiver. That the caregiving process really is a grueling, difficult process. Certainly, it can be loving and have some spiritual side to it, but it's much better if you can experience the process as a child to your parent or as a spouse to your spouse, as opposed to being the caregiver.
