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WSA has partnered with Retirement Homes.com, an organization that has listings for retirement and caregiving facilities in the United States and Canada, in order to increase exposure for both our organizations.  This is meant as a service to our members who may be searching for new and alternative living quarters.  WSA provides this as information only without endorsement.
 We will be providing Retirement Homes with articles for their newsletter which is widely distributed.  The first article appears below.

Spousal Caregivers Find Support But Need More Attention (as published in SeniorLiving.com)

by Lawrence Bocchiere III, President, Well Spouse™ Association

There are over 3,000,000 Spousal  Caregivers across the United States, providing care for a husband, wife or partner. 

We often are forced to quit or reduce work.  We face the roller-coaster of exacerbations, hospitalizations, rehabilitation, home and hospice care.  On top of that we often face disastrous financial consequences of being overwhelmed with medical bills.  We place our own well being 'on hold' to provide care as best as we can.  Yet we carry on.  Spousal caregivers are often de-facto single-parents.  Our greatest loses are intimacy and partnership.  Where there were two, a viable couple, there is now one.  We are left with one person to maintain the household, to work, to plan and dream.  There is now just one person to mow the lawn, to fix the car, to cook the dinner and to attend the PTA meeting.  Often instead of a spouse and partner you are relegated to the role of 'nurse'.   
   

It has been estimated that the care we provide just to our spouses reduces the costs to Medicare by over $51 billion a year.


Long-term caregivers such as I face daily struggles in our lives and monumental coping problems.  I have tried counseling and medication - but have truly found solace in an organization that connects spousal caregivers in a support network throughout the United States and Canada, with on-line members in many countries around the world -the Well Spouse™ Association - a non-profit support group.


Through Well Spouse we maintain a website where we share best practices, important events, navigating the health and insurance systems, and mutual support. We have a network of local support groups that meet throughout the country, (with two in Canada as well).  We produce a publication for and by the members. 


At our annual national Conference, and  regional respite trips and weekends caregivers get the rest they need to continue in their lives, and make friends for life with their fellow travelers.  I cannot emphasize how important this organization is to the wellbeing of spousal caregivers.  It is the one place they can come for advice and support where everyone else understands and offers compassion for a trying lifestyle - one that wears us down daily.


Well Spouse wants to reach as many spousal caregivers as possible.  The average participant lingers for years in a morass without meaningful support.  My goal is to inform as many people as I can of the nurturing available to you at www.wellspouse.org.  You will find a 'family' of caregivers available for solace, understanding, medical procedures we have experienced and navigation of the health care and insurance systems.  The great thing about Well Spouse is that all of us have walked the same path and we know so well the effect on your lives.  So I invite all spousal caregivers to visit us - you will be very glad you did.

Lawrence Bocchiere III
President Well Spouse™ Association
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