Balancing Life as a Well Spouse: Managing Stress and Loneliness with a Critically Ill Mate (Boomer Series)

Learn what it means to be the caregiver of a chronically ill mate in this transcript of The Boomer and The Babe Radio Show. In a one-hour conversation, Terri Corcoran discussed with host Pete Peters her long history of taking care of her husband and provided tips for staying healthy and supported while care giving.

Terri Corcoran is a baby boomer and a full-time caregiver for her husband who has been severely disabled mentally and physically for most of their marriage, which is still going at 13 years (second marriage for both). He has a genetic neurodegenerative condition called Fragile-X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS).

Terri tells us about her husband's condition, FXTAS, which was not discovered and identified by researchers until 2001. It took 5 years to diagnose him correctly -- it is not an uncommon condition which can begin in the 50s -- but many people do not know about it, and it is not properly agnosed. If suspected, it can be diagnosed easily with a DNA test.

Terri has written and spoken about the tremendous challenges of spousal care giving. She must not only provide intensive care, but has virtually lost communication with her husband. She has done well, though, by the grace
of God and the Well Spouse Association, a non-profit, peer-to-peer support organization providing emotional support and other resources for spousal caregivers -- it is the only organization of its kind. Well Spouses are always trying to reach out to others in this very difficult situation, so they can find that they are not alone; of course, many of the members are Baby Boomers.