June 26, 2009
I read something the other day saying all caregivers were ‘hero’s’. I don't know about 'hero' but I have written my story, 'Just a Word' friends encounter Alzheimer's. A story of friendship, and going that extra mile for the life of a friend. I was caregiver for fourteen years: four at home, and ten in a nursing home. Anyone who thinks when one gets put in a nursing home the duties of the caregiver are over, is very mistaken. That's when caregiving becomes different. That's when you need to watch over the people who are caring for your loved one. So now you are not only making sure your loved one is cleaned, dressed and fed, but now you are making sure she/he is not being abused in anyway, by mouth, or by hand.
My way of coping was through prayer. Praying my friend would be sleeping at night instead of pacing the halls of a nursing home the way she did at home. Praying my friend was fed, and why was she losing so much weight? Praying mostly that she was not hurt, like the time she fell and broke her hip and they x-rayed the wrong hip. Sometime we need to go through the unbelievable to see the truth on the other side, to become stronger and fearless.
My story, 'Just a Word' is mostly of nursing home caregiving, things to watch out for, things to keep your ears open to. 'Hero'? I guess in a sense all caregivers are. Watching over a husband, wife, parent, sister, brother, or friend, there really is no difference.
Friday, June 26, 2009
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1 comments:
Rose, I thought "Just a Word" would be such a help to caregivers, if for no other reason than to let them know they were not alone in the universe. In fact, it's a good read for everyone to help prepare them for that possibility later in their own life. I can certainly relate to the devotion, the questions, the awesome sense of responsibility for their welfare, and the difficulty in letting go when we can no longer handle their care. When we love someone, we don't consider our actions "heroic". Keep up your good work.
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