@SquarePegGuy thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. I understand what you mean about the shift in relationship dynamics, especially when it’s your spouse and how you can find yourself in caregiver/patient roles.

I support my husband, something in our case which has come on gradually. I still can’t bring myself to say I care for him because to me that denotes something far more full on than I’m currently doing (like bathing and dressing for instance). I can see some caregivers are akin to nursing care, that must be hard. I know however that he would struggle without me now and that makes me feel sad.

It must be tough doing a day job and caring for your wife? I only work part time, that’s still doable thankfully, if I didn’t get to work my mental health would suffer, I need that change of scene.

I get what you say about using your downtime to rest, that sounds sensible. It takes up a lot of physical and mental energy. I regret I let my exercise regime slide for much the same reasons.