Virginia held back a tear as she reminisced the days of spending time together with her mother when they were both younger.
“My mother taught her girls everything they needed to know about cooking, sewing, or anything else a girl should know about,” she said, as she pulled the covers up on her mother’s bed.
Unfortunately, her mother could barely get out of the bed these days. Instead of teaching, she needed the assistance of Virginia and anyone else who could help.
“Age takes its toll on each of us. It will only be a matter of time before my kids are looking after me,” Virginia added.
With over 5,000,000 Alzheimer’s patients in the U.S., it’s just a matter of time before any one of us will need someone’s assistance. The problem with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is that it carries a stigma with many.
People often think of Alzheimer’s patients as people who are beyond help, and need to be locked away. On the contrary, nothing could be farther from the truth. Most Alzheimer’s patients can still learn, still reason, and most importantly, still understand the feeling of love and touch. They need the love from their family and friends more than ever, but it’s a time when most of the people they know will slowly walk away and not contact them again.
Care Giving with a Heart – Ways to Show You Care
Here are some examples of how Applewood Our House approaches care giving with a heart and can show Alzheimer’s patients that we care.
* Professional Caregivers – You might not be able to handle the entire load yourself when it comes time to care giving near the end of a loved one’s life.
In those cases when there are no other family members or friends around, you can seek professional caregivers to help out. Always remember that professional caregivers should not be used as a replacement for family members. They need love from as many sources as possible.
* In Touch with Nature – When you can, take your loved one out of the confines of where they are staying, and take them for a sit outside. Allow them to see the blueness of the sky. Let them hear and watch the birds chirping as they dart from place to place. Perhaps, just allowing their feet to touch
the grass could do wonders for them. At Applewood Our House our homes have beautiful secured outdoor space filled with birds, flowers and a resident garden.
* Lending a Hand – There might come a time that all that your loved one needs is a hand to hold. At that time, you won’t need to say a thing. You can just look into their eyes and remember all of the good times that you had, and start to enjoy the final days or weeks that you will have together.
* Letting Go – One aspect of care giving with a heart is to know when you’ve done all you can. Some family members are left with the choice of removing a loved one from life support. There’s no way to prepare yourself for that, and no one can tell you if or when you should make that choice.
However, one of the biggest ways of showing that you care in the end is letting go.
* Care Giving for Others – Those who were caregivers for their own family members often find it so rewarding that they volunteer to be a caregiver for complete strangers. Check with your local community to find caregiver programs where you can volunteer. The non-profit coalition of the National Alliance for Care Giving, estimates that there are close to 50 million caregivers in the United States today. So, you know you are in good company.
Applewood Our House Care Giving with a Heart – Conclusion
Care giving with a heart can be tough, but it is definitely rewarding. At Applewood Our House in Lakewood, Golden, and Arvada, we understand this concept and practice it day in and day out. Whether you are doing it for family, friends, or strangers, give the gift of a touch, caress, or just a hand to hold. You will be forever glad you did.
