Caregiver's Syndrome:
Resuming Life

Aired on Lifetime Television
April 20 and June 1, 2008
Show 509

Jackie had moved out on the West Coast but unexpectedly came back to her parents' home when they both became in dire need of care. After caregiving for them for almost a year, they each passed away -- five weeks apart. That's traumatic enough -- but now in the aftermath, Jackie faces another difficulty: restarting her regular life as she continues the grieving process. She has to say goodbye to people who helped her during her caregiving time and feels nervous about moving back, since she's been gone for a year. Leeza and Dr. Jamie Huysman discuss a caregiver's uniquely complicated situation called Caregiver's Syndrome, where the caregiver loses a loved one and has often lost their full-time job while caregiving. The combination of changes a caregiver must go through often requires extra support and strength to navigate.