Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A caregivers daily dilema
Respect, courtesy and worthiness, we give this everyday. How are you being treated? Caregivers give and give, each and everyday. We are not maids, but we vacuum, wash dishes,clothes, make beds and everything else that a person needs daily. Plus, we are asked to be a companion, a good listener, play board games, go shopping, cook breakfast, lunch and dinner and sometimes even walk and feed the dog, the cat, also clean and pick up after them. Everyone needs respect. I believe that this dramatically affects how we treat each other. Every caregiver deserves consideration and worthiness. being a caregiver is tedious and frustrating at times, we feel no one considers the efforts and our daily ordeals. With one hand we are turning the pot, with the other writing a Doctors appointment on the calendar for next week, while talking on the phone. We are companions, we help with hygiene, medication reminders, we make sure everyone is safe and healthy, we look for health hazards and monitor everyones daily nutritional needs, and at the end of the day, we clean up and leave everything aseptically clean. We know our job and we love doing it. My last employer use to write us a thank you sticky note on our check with a happy face and we had treats when ever we picked up our check. Once in a while I was a hero because I took an assignment that no one else wanted .....Once in a while I felt they appreciated my job. At home... it's a whole different story.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Care giving is a service
Hi! I just wanted to write this small letter to caregivers everywhere;) ( I hope someone reads it) my name is not important, nor the city where I serve, what is important is that I'm working steady despite of my age, aches and pains. Yes, I'm probably older than you, but I love being a caregiver, don't get me wrong it has its pitfalls once in a while, but at the end of the day it's all worth doing. I just pray that God grants me enough years and strength, to keep on helping people less fortunate, because I consider every day a blessing. I have been a caregiver for 12 years, and I believe this is the best outfit I've worked for yet. The pay is good, my associates are very nice and helpful. Once a month we get together and talk about ways of doing things better and thats what it's all about, helping others in a better way. Well, I'm glad I had an opportunity to say Hi! and keep on moving! with Pro-Respite Care Services.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
A call for help!
I'm a caregiver too.
I worked for an agency for three years, the pay wasn’t so good but I love what I do. Recently I had a situation that left in pain and I had no one to help me deal with it.
I was caring for an “Angel” in the form of an aging Irish “lil nun”; Sister M. had devoted her life to helping the poor and the needy as most due. Now she is in a hospital, feeling alone, waiting to die. I say this in the most respectful way I know how, because I’m not catholic. Well, this adorable sweet woman was under my care for a few months. I learned so much from her, that it almost brings me to tears to talk about her....I have been a caregiver for over 20 years a Certified Nurse’s Assistant, Medical Assistant etc. (blah blah), all those years of dealing with similar situations suppose to have made me resilient to my “lil nun” Sister M., I was actually exited when I worked with her, every day was so spiritual, she was funny and she had so many wonderful stories to share. Sad to say, one day, she became ill…and she knew, and I knew, that we were probably not going to see each other again. Well, not in this life time, anyway. Sister M. became ill that morning and I had to call 911, but her words are still deafening because that morning, her eyes grew frightened and she said to me “NO, NO, I want to die here at home, don’t call, if you call I’ll have to die in the hospital alone.” I was torn between my duty and her pleads. I had to do it, I did call 911, because she was so sick(I tell my self that everyday). Sister M. was taken to the hospital that hour, and later I was advised by my employer that the other nuns in charge..didn’t want me to visit Sister M. because she might think she could come home, and it would confuse her. I felt that Sister M. would think that I abandon her; I lost days of sleep thinking how she might be, how she was feeling. Later my employer let me know that Sister M. was dying due to complications, and that I still couldn’t go visit her. Yes, I’m upset… Not just because I couldn’t say good bye to my friend, but because Sister M. knew she was going to the hospital to die there alone… As a caregiver I feel that it is important to have others in your job to talk to. Specially about these types of situations. I didn’t have that with my past employer, but now I work with Pro-Respite Care and I have counselors to help with bereavement, they have training programs to helped deal with situations like these, and they helped me Certify for Home Health Assistant, and I'm making more money now than working for an agency.
Other author: (You know in your heart that caring for another is important work, and you give it your best. But sometimes it can feel like you are facing so much more than you can handle... We are here to remind you that you are not alone, and that there are lots of resources to help you, and many others who are in similar care giving situations.)
www.pro-respitecare.com
I worked for an agency for three years, the pay wasn’t so good but I love what I do. Recently I had a situation that left in pain and I had no one to help me deal with it.
I was caring for an “Angel” in the form of an aging Irish “lil nun”; Sister M. had devoted her life to helping the poor and the needy as most due. Now she is in a hospital, feeling alone, waiting to die. I say this in the most respectful way I know how, because I’m not catholic. Well, this adorable sweet woman was under my care for a few months. I learned so much from her, that it almost brings me to tears to talk about her....I have been a caregiver for over 20 years a Certified Nurse’s Assistant, Medical Assistant etc. (blah blah), all those years of dealing with similar situations suppose to have made me resilient to my “lil nun” Sister M., I was actually exited when I worked with her, every day was so spiritual, she was funny and she had so many wonderful stories to share. Sad to say, one day, she became ill…and she knew, and I knew, that we were probably not going to see each other again. Well, not in this life time, anyway. Sister M. became ill that morning and I had to call 911, but her words are still deafening because that morning, her eyes grew frightened and she said to me “NO, NO, I want to die here at home, don’t call, if you call I’ll have to die in the hospital alone.” I was torn between my duty and her pleads. I had to do it, I did call 911, because she was so sick(I tell my self that everyday). Sister M. was taken to the hospital that hour, and later I was advised by my employer that the other nuns in charge..didn’t want me to visit Sister M. because she might think she could come home, and it would confuse her. I felt that Sister M. would think that I abandon her; I lost days of sleep thinking how she might be, how she was feeling. Later my employer let me know that Sister M. was dying due to complications, and that I still couldn’t go visit her. Yes, I’m upset… Not just because I couldn’t say good bye to my friend, but because Sister M. knew she was going to the hospital to die there alone… As a caregiver I feel that it is important to have others in your job to talk to. Specially about these types of situations. I didn’t have that with my past employer, but now I work with Pro-Respite Care and I have counselors to help with bereavement, they have training programs to helped deal with situations like these, and they helped me Certify for Home Health Assistant, and I'm making more money now than working for an agency.
Other author: (You know in your heart that caring for another is important work, and you give it your best. But sometimes it can feel like you are facing so much more than you can handle... We are here to remind you that you are not alone, and that there are lots of resources to help you, and many others who are in similar care giving situations.)
www.pro-respitecare.com
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Aging Gracefully
When I was a teenager, anyone over 30 was positively ancient. I couldn't imagine getting older or going trough a trauma that would leave me incapable of caring for my self. I never once worried about my health,the quality of life I had, or how my family would care for me in case of trauma. Now that I’m older and I
understand how important it is to take care of myself, and to be self sufficient, but most of all, if I had a physical trauma I want to stay at home.
I have clients that range from 10 up to 96 years old, some of my seniors are in better shape than most people in their 50’s and 60’s. Besides good genetics, the one thing that makes a difference in their lives is daily exercise and keeping motivated. Now I believe that it's not how long we live, but the quality of life
that we have while we are alive.
You Can’t Stop the clock despite all the anti-aging products pushed on us (Botox anyone?), it’s inevitable that we will get older and some of us will go through some trauma or hospitalization in our life time.
Some of the things that could happen include loss of strength, Dementia, Alzheimers and Sarcopenia which is the fancy term scientists have given to describe loss of muscle, strength and quality of tissue often seen in older adults.
* Some experts have suggested that muscle mass declines about 4% each decade from age 25 to
50, together with endurance, flexibility and balance.
* As we age, we could lose aerobic fitness and experts believe this often contributes to reduced
mobility in daily life.
* Joints change with age and this can lead to stiffness, decreased range of motion and more
injuries
* Each year, hospitals see over 300,000 patients for broken hips due to falling.
* Exercises can help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile.
24/7 www.pro-respitecare.com
When I was a teenager, anyone over 30 was positively ancient. I couldn't imagine getting older or going trough a trauma that would leave me incapable of caring for my self. I never once worried about my health,the quality of life I had, or how my family would care for me in case of trauma. Now that I’m older and I
understand how important it is to take care of myself, and to be self sufficient, but most of all, if I had a physical trauma I want to stay at home.
I have clients that range from 10 up to 96 years old, some of my seniors are in better shape than most people in their 50’s and 60’s. Besides good genetics, the one thing that makes a difference in their lives is daily exercise and keeping motivated. Now I believe that it's not how long we live, but the quality of life
that we have while we are alive.
You Can’t Stop the clock despite all the anti-aging products pushed on us (Botox anyone?), it’s inevitable that we will get older and some of us will go through some trauma or hospitalization in our life time.
Some of the things that could happen include loss of strength, Dementia, Alzheimers and Sarcopenia which is the fancy term scientists have given to describe loss of muscle, strength and quality of tissue often seen in older adults.
* Some experts have suggested that muscle mass declines about 4% each decade from age 25 to
50, together with endurance, flexibility and balance.
* As we age, we could lose aerobic fitness and experts believe this often contributes to reduced
mobility in daily life.
* Joints change with age and this can lead to stiffness, decreased range of motion and more
injuries
* Each year, hospitals see over 300,000 patients for broken hips due to falling.
* Exercises can help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile.
24/7 www.pro-respitecare.com
Friday, April 4, 2008
Aging Gracefuly
Becoming a caregiver for someone you love is one of those heart wrenching and at times enlightening life lessons. Your role as a family caregiver can happen abruptly or creep in slowly-unnoticed until one day you realize you are caring more for someone else than you are for yourself.
You find yourself beginning to struggle with the day to day demands and somewhere along the way you realize you have lost your identity and have allowed the care giving role to define who you are. Your new role as a family caregiver can become as frightening as the initial diagnosis. The journey can be a difficult when traveled alone; however, it doesn't have to be that difficult and you should not have to travel the road alone. 24/7 www.pro-respitecare.com
You find yourself beginning to struggle with the day to day demands and somewhere along the way you realize you have lost your identity and have allowed the care giving role to define who you are. Your new role as a family caregiver can become as frightening as the initial diagnosis. The journey can be a difficult when traveled alone; however, it doesn't have to be that difficult and you should not have to travel the road alone. 24/7 www.pro-respitecare.com
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