Stephanie didn’t know how much more she could take. Her mother Mae was driving her crazy! Stephanie sighed. She knew it wasn’t really her mother driving her crazy – it was everything! Ever since she had been trying to work from home, and her mother’s dementia day program had closed, Stephanie had noticed a big change in Mae’s mood – and her own patience level.
Mae was more confused than ever. She seemed to need reassurance for everything she did. Stephanie understood that it was Alzheimer’s disease
Caregiver Pasadena, CA: Alzheimer’s and Seniors
causing the behavior changes, but she was so overwhelmed it was difficult to drum up the patience her mom needed. And now, Mae was starting to interrupt her work.
Stephanie knew something needed to give. But what? She wished she could go back to working in the office and her mom could go back to the day program, but those weren’t options right now. There was no telling when they would be again.
“If only Mom could have some engagement while I’m trying to work,” Stephanie thought. She knew that people with Alzheimer’s disease functioned and felt much better when they were engaged in activities that were meaningful for them. She had seen the change when Mae had first started the day program. She had become much more relaxed and confident. She had less trouble finding her words, and seemed happier in general.
Stephanie sighed. She wished she could take enough time off of work to help her mom engage in meaningful activity. Mae used to love painting, cooking and gardening. Time off wasn’t an option, so Stephanie continued struggling to meet the bare minimum she had to do at work and home. She could barely keep herself and her mom fed, the house cleaned and the dog was walked.
These thoughts were swirling through her mind as she drifted off to sleep late one evening. An ad for a home care agency came on the television. “Family caregivers: Is your loved one with dementia struggling at home without enough meaningful activity?” asked the voiceover. Stephanie sat bolt upright in bed. That was it! Home care was the answer she had been looking for! She could hardly wait until morning to call the agency.
A quick phone later, Stephanie had all the details arranged. When Stephanie had explained their circumstances, the agency personnel had worked with her to figure out a plan. Each weekday, the home care aide would come to the house after breakfast. Stephanie would retire upstairs to work while the aide and Mae would clean up the kitchen, walk the dog and put on a pot of soup – Mae’s favorite – for lunch. After that, Mae and the aide would spend time painting, weeding the garden, or listening to Mae’s favorite music and looking at old family photos. Once a week they would go to the grocery store.
Stephanie couldn’t believe how well the plan worked! Mae felt so much better with the purposeful activity in her life. She also loved the socialization with someone other than her daughter. Because they were also taking care of walking the dog, and some of the cleaning, cooking and shopping, Stephanie’s time and energy were freed up to focus on her own work and self-care.
She was so grateful to home care for making their impossible situation wonderful again!
If you or an aging loved-one is considering a Caregiver in Pasadena, CA please contact the caring staff at Nu Care Inc. today at. 800-505-6890
Sources
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1533317515576389