Subscribe to RSSWelcome to My World – A Caregiver’s Frustration
Since we’ve been receiving hospice care, a nurse visits our home twice a week and we really appreciate those visits. Because of her declining mental and physical abilities, Gladys’ care is becoming increasingly frustrating. For the past few days, it has been very difficult for Gladys to stand up and walk. In fact, we don’t even take her to the bathroom anymore, we just try to get her to take the few steps to the bedside commode.
This past Monday our home health aid and the nurse arrived about the same time. They were surprised that it took both of them to get Gladys out of her chair and stand her up to her walker. Of course Gladys told the nurse that she felt fine and everything was going well. They looked at me, surprised at the effort that it took for both of them to help her up. I just looked at them and said “Welcome to My World.”
More change is in store because my husband, Fred, starts working next week. It will be an adjustment because he helps me a lot with Gladys. I have added another day for our sitter, so that will be some relief and allow me to run errands and do other things I need to do.
All we can do is take it one day at a time and do the best we can. It gets a little frustrating but so far we’re managing.
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Jul 21, 2010 - 08:07:30Valerie, I share your frustrations my mother and I care for my 97 year-old grandmother who was diagnosed with Dementia and lost her eye sight to glaucoma in August, 2006. It’s hard to watch her drift away into her own world when you are used to seeing this petite, vibrant lady caring for everybody else (family, neighbors, etc.) and then one day she wakes up and she’s lost and we are caring for her as if she’s a baby. I think for me the frustrations came when I finally came to the realization that no doctor or medication would help and I couldn’t do anything to bring her back. The stage that Gladys has reached is where Granny was in 2008. I think it was more less difficult for me than it was for Granny because in her world everything is just fine. Granny loves for us to kiss & hug on her, she enjoys when we read to her and it’s so ironic because when I was a kid she would always kiss & hug and read to me. So, now I just try to treasure the time I have with her. We have good days and bad days, some days she cries and some days I cry but at the end the day I guess we’re both happy we have each other. So just love on Gladys and trust me she appreciates you.
Carla, thanks for your words of encouragement. Just like you, it is difficult for me to see this woman who used to be in charge of everything and everybody (she was very bossy).
I wish you and your mother luck with your grandmother.
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