Changing Roles...Men as Caregivers

With an increasing number of women over 65 that have been diagnosed with some form of dementia or other debilitating disease, it has been the men in our lives who have had to step up as senior citizens themselves, and learn how to become the nurturers perhaps for the first time in their adult lives.

To many men this is very hard and challenging, but they are embracing the role proudly and doing it because of love.  This person, who no longer is able to do things for herself, is most likely the spouse they married 60+ years ago, and they refuse to abandon her in a time of need.

They are taking over the everyday duties of fixing the meals, doing the laundry, giving the meds, dressing their loved one, giving baths and showers, and making sure that all of the doctor appointments are made and kept.

Men tend to seek help from others sources and family members when they are in a bind, whereas women generally take on the caregiving duties alone rather than burden someone else.  This is an A+ for the men.

While the men as caregivers do have emotional reactions and feel the great loss just like the women, they keep trying to fix things rather than giving up and into their emotions. 

To most, serving as a caregiver was never a question.