Hiya

I just thought that I'd let you know that there is support for carers out there. Even in my very rural location.

Your local health centre should be able to set up someone to help you both out. I know that there are respite services for carers. They offer home help to aid with the house hold chores, bathing and general care of the person you are caring for. They also offer to whisk the person you are caring off for a short while every once in a while (a few days top a couple of weeks).

This wouldnt mean that you want rid of her but it would give you a break every now and then. They also offer group get togethers where you can discuss the problems you are facing with others who are in the same situation which would probably reassure you that you are not the only one who needs help or a short break now and then. I would think that this would help with the feelings of guilt about not being able to cope. You really shouldnt feel guilty but I know that its not easy to just turn it off.

You arent alone with this you maybe just need to know that. In the UK this is a free service but I dont know if that is the situation in the US. There are also voluntary or charitable organisations that help with this.

Give it a go. Maybe getting together with the local group support before deciding whether you want to go ahead with having a short break would help. But either way a bit of help in the home wouldnt go amiss. Just someone to do the cleaning and bath her etc would take some of the pressure off.

Hope this is of some help

Take care