Being a Caregiver Is A Loving Sacrifice
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Thelma Sweitzer is a caregiver. She says that when she was a child, her mother always told her what to do. Now her mother is 96 and still telling her what to do. Thelma promised she would always take care of her mother and she has kept that promise, even although the promise was made when she was young and before she met her husband. They now have a family business and she and her husband limit the number of clients they service so that she can take care of her mother. She says it can be difficult.
What can a caregiver can do to alleviate the stress of such a situation?
- When all the members of the family are together, and the mood is good, set forth agreed upon guidelines and rules. Then learn to say "no".
- Make fun a priority. It is more important to make sure that the time spent with your parent is quality time than that you are with them all the time.
- Reach out for help in your community. You will be amazed at how many services are out there that you can use.
- You can provide an electric wheelchair to improve your loved one's mobility. The SCOOTER Store offers a full line of durable medical equipment, including power wheelchairs and scooters, lifts, ramps and accessories.
Barbara Miller explains how a power wheelchair eased her job as caregiver when her mother lost her mobility.
"I don't think a lot of people realize that when you lose mobility, you lose many other things as well—like going outside or onto the deck. My mom's a real nature lover. Her power chair lets her get around without my having to always be there to help her out a door or to get her to another room."
"My husband put up a rail that is similar to what you would use going downstairs and attached it to the top of the deck rail. Now Mom can take her power wheelchair out there and she can hang on to the rail and walk—which gives her a sense of independence. I think you see about ten years leave her face when she's standing out there knowing that she's safe because that power wheelchair is right there."
"When you are a caregiver, you lose your independence because you are always on call. Now that she has a power wheelchair, I am not forced to do everything that she can't do for herself and I am able to do what I need to do."
With a sprinkling of kindness and a focus on freedom and independence for you and your disabled loved one, the caregiving experience can be very rewarding.
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