DEAR ABBY: I think what "End of My Rope" may have failed to say is that she's tired of sacrificing her own life to care for her ill-tempered, terminally ill husband. Harsh as this may seem, it's a fact. I have been caring for my father for eight years. He's suffering from severe dementia and is now an invalid. I, too, provide him round-the-clock care.
My suggestion to "End" would be to talk to a respite facility about giving her a "vacation" from her husband. I do this with my father twice a year. His appreciation for the care I give him increases greatly after being in a "home." He goes for only one week at a time, but it's long enough for me to miss him and for him to realize I'm not so bad after all.
