Time for Me Now

Most everyone knows of someone who had dementia and can think of who the family caregiver (FC) was for that person. In my case, it was my great grandma who was cared for by my grandma, and then my grandma who was cared for by my mom. I then found myself caring for my own mom too until she died at age 80 of dementia. Dementia is widespread and knows no boundaries by gender, race, ethnicity, rural or urban setting. However, it does occur mostly in those 65 years of age and older. Dementia family caregiving is widespread. But less research has informed us on the post-caregiving phase of caring for someone with dementia. This is the phase following the patient’s death and its ongoing effects on FCs. This chapter explores the lives of widows who cared for husbands who died of dementia around the theme “time for me now.” This information supports nurses’ crucial involvement with FCs following a long caregiving experience, like dementia caregiving, and guides nurses on ways to provide support.