My experience in senior care has started as the personal one. That is not an atypical situation.  I can’t say that my mother’s Alzheimer changed the field of my occupation. Yet my personal story certainly affects my professional life. The approach to senior care care was quite different in those days. There were fewer options.  Geriatric care managers didn’t appear quiet yet. There was no wide range of home care agencies. Essentially, there was virtually no one you could turn to for advice.  Alzheimer disease itself wasn’t as well known as it is today. Consequently, when I realized that  my mom could no longer live alone , a  nursing home  began to sound  as a suitable outcome. I’ll never forget my desperate search for a decent one I could afford.  Did  I have  doubts regarding the move ? Certainly. That’s  precisely what I had referred to at the beginning of this article . The judgment was poor, the courage was lacking. “It would be so good to have nice person in the house with Mom…”  That thought kept reappearing in my mind. But  there was no support and I backed off.

Don’ get me wrong, I’m not trying to say that the care was poor . What I wanted, was for it to be personal. In fact what had become clear was that the the only crucial things that nursing   homes didn’t seem to provide were: A personal touch and continuity. It wasn’t deliberate. It  just wasn’t in “their love map”.  Nursing home  were clearly geared as homes for the masses.What I wanted  was a true  home for an individual. “There is no place like home”., concept firmly planted its roots in my head. The concept seemed to be especially true when any part of the body or mind declines.

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow caregivers, presence of spirit and patience might come in handy. Finding the right  caregiver   is no easy job.  Yet,  to me  this was the  only path to take. Succeeding in  home care, making it personal  led to amazing rewards : Optimal care for your parent and,  and crucial  peace of mind for yourself.

It’s no secret  that I’m passionate supporter of home care. At times the passion carries me away. Consequently, I  have neglected to mention the difference in cost. That difference is tremendous. However, even if you are so well off that you can spread money like confetti, choose the home care road.  The care of your loved ones are  will be hand crafted to satisfy their needs as well as your wishes.  In return, you will receive the reward of satisfaction and true  joy.

Good luck!

I believe it’s important to encourage family caregivers to recognize and celebrate their successes as a caregiver.

I often hear from family caregivers: How can I be successful if every decision I make seems to make my relative absolutely miserable?

Our aging relatives have known tremendous losses. They have watched many friends and family members die. They have experienced incredible physical losses, both in part to the aging process and as a result of illness or disease. They must now rely on others to perform duties and chores they had once done: grocery shopping, driving, cooking. We can only guess at the pain of these losses.

Sometimes, family caregivers can be wonderful targets for our care recipients. care recipients need to express their own frustration and often take it out on the very person who helps them. Help from others is a constant reminder of all that they have lost and all that they will never regain.

More importantly, perhaps what makes you a successful caregiver–finding a good nursing home, or taking a regular vacation–will make your care recipient really unhappy. They took care of you–why can’t you take care of them? Why do they have to go to a nursing home? Or, they can’t take a vacation–why should you? They can’t have fun–why should you?

A care recipient’s unhappiness, depression and anger can dampen your caregiving successes. As you try to maintain a positive attitude, keep this in mind: As a caregiver for an aging relative, you are responsible for ensuring your care recipient is safe and well-cared for. You are also responsible for your own happiness. You can not make any one else happy. It’s impossible. Trying to make someone else happy will only make you miserable.

You, after all, doing the best you can. And, that’s why you are successful.

By Denise M. Brown

Reprinted with permission from Caregiving.com. Caregiving.com helps you
help your aging relatives.

Source: http://www.caregiving.com