Beverly’s Story: Lack of Connection and Financial Strain of Caregiving

For the past three years, Beverly has cared for her husband at home. Once an accomplished machinist, he lives with Alzheimer’s, a condition that has slowly changed nearly every aspect of their daily lives.

Now retired, Beverly faces the caregiving journey largely on her own. There are no friends or family nearby to help with daily support, and the cost of hiring in-home care is overwhelming.

“You have to be low income to get any kind of financial help,” she says. “Agencies often require a minimum number of hours, and at $40 an hour, it quickly becomes unaffordable. Middle-income people like me are stuck. Caregivers need help.”

It has become abundantly clear to Beverly that there is a massive lack of support and services for Granite State caregivers.

In addition to the financial strain and lack of daily support, Beverly deals with the emotional toll of caring for her husband. She is responsible for managing every aspect of his life with no daily support. She must handle the day-to-day tasks they used to share - paying bills, scheduling doctor appointments, staying on top of medications, going grocery shopping, and other household duties.

As her husband’s list of needs continues to grow, Beverly faces a difficult situation that many Granite State caregivers understand. She knows there is a crucial need for a resource and support system in New Hampshire. What Beverly really wishes for is a more connected community, something like a local network of caregivers who could check in on each other and share advice.

“Even having someone to chat with once in a while would make a difference because many caregivers are isolated,” she says.

Despite the challenges, Beverly continues to care for her husband with patience and strength. She’s thoughtful and deeply committed to improving the caregiving experience through advocacy and sharing her story—not just for herself, but for others walking the same path.
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More Caregiving Resources

For AARP Caregiving resources, please visit www.aarp.org/caregiving

To get involved locally with advocacy efforts related to family caregivers, please contact AARP NH’s Associate State Director of Advocacy Mike Padmore at mpadmore@aarp.org.