Caregiver's Guide

Patient columnist Robin Stemple has many people who assist him, particularly his wife and daughter, and he is grateful for everyone who gives him help on a daily basis, often without him even having to ask.

After 17 years, Shalom Lin is preparing to say good-bye to his caregiver, Glenda. Goodbyes are always painful but often necessary. Nothing lasts forever, so we must enjoy what we have with the people we love, he writes.

As a mom to three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Betty Vertin sometimes feels that she needs to meet their needs at the expense of her own. Recognizing when she needs to take some time away for self-care is vital to her perseverance as a caregiver and her mental health as a mom, she says.