My Life As a Caregiver, One Year Later

It was about this time last year that my daughter, Nichole, and I decided to move Gladys from Nichole’s home in Philly to mine in Atlanta.  It was the beginning of my life as a caregiver.  The first few months were spent making changes to our home to accommodate the needs of an aging stroke survivor with dementia and severe arthritis.

One of the changes that is not listed below is that I have become more sensitive to the needs of the elderly, especially those without family or friends to help them.  I often wonder what would have happened to Gladys if my family didn’t take care of her.

Family changes since becoming caregivers:

• Most nights I’m up at 1:30 AM and again at 4:30 AM to check on or assist Gladys
• Since Gladys has diabetes and high blood pressure, I cook more.
• There’s a lot of medicine to dispense twice a day (10 prescriptions plus over the counter medicines)
• I pick up a different prescription at least once a week (all the pharmacy people know me by name)
• I’m eating healthier but gaining weight
• Tuesday through Friday, I get Gladys up at 6:30 AM to get her ready to leave for Adult Day Care by 9:00 AM
• I have to bathe Gladys and help her dress
• We have two cats now instead of one.  We got a cat for Gladys but the cats don’t get along
• Errands, meetings and doctors appointments have to be scheduled around Gladys’ schedule
• I get headaches trying to understand Medicare
• Fred and I don’t go out often because we need someone to stay with Gladys
• Laundry almost every other day due to night time accidents
• I am more patient

When I talk with other caregivers, these changes are minor compared to how life has changed for them.  Gladys has dementia but not to the point that she misplaces or hides things and we can’t find them.  She’s pretty easy to get along with and she’s usually pleasant.  A lot of caregivers have to deal with combative parents and grandparents.

I am very thankful for the amount of help and support I get from my husband, Fred and daughter, Anita.  I’m absolutely certain that life would be much different if it wasn’t for their assistance.  We don’t know what the future has in store, we just try to roll with the punches.

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