Comments for Caregiver Support Blog http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com This blog is for caregivers, written by a caregiver, to give support, advice, and encouragement. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:32:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Driving Post Stroke, a Caregivers Perspective by Elise Walker http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/driving-post-stroke-a-caregivers-perspective/#comment-2555 Elise Walker Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:32:32 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=267#comment-2555 Oh, I'm so encouraged by this story. My sister suffered from a stroke, too. She was only 21 when that happened and I'm going to share this story to her. Thank you! Oh, I’m so encouraged by this story. My sister suffered from a stroke, too. She was only 21 when that happened and I’m going to share this story to her. Thank you!

]]> Comment on Being a Young Caregiver by Amy http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/being-a-young-caregiver/#comment-2554 Amy Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:16:41 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-2554 Sara- My husband suffered a massive stroke at the young age of 32. It has been almost been 6 yrs since the rug was yanked from under our feet and our lives seem to be at a stand still. We still cry and want our old lives back! I'm not sure if my husband will ever accept this new guy he has become. He could have been nominated for father of the year before stroke and now he completly avoids his children. He once was a great source of strength for me and now he tells me that he does't want to hear about it...he says he has enough problems of his own. He doesn't seem to comprehend that his stroke has effected my life as well. Such a lonely place to be. Amy Sara- My husband suffered a massive stroke at the young age of 32. It has been almost been 6 yrs since the rug was yanked from under our feet and our lives seem to be at a stand still. We still cry and want our old lives back! I’m not sure if my husband will ever accept this new guy he has become. He could have been nominated for father of the year before stroke and now he completly avoids his children. He once was a great source of strength for me and now he tells me that he does’t want to hear about it…he says he has enough problems of his own. He doesn’t seem to comprehend that his stroke has effected my life as well. Such a lonely place to be.
Amy

]]> Comment on Driving Post Stroke, a Caregivers Perspective by Lenore http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/driving-post-stroke-a-caregivers-perspective/#comment-2547 Lenore Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:24:43 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=267#comment-2547 My husband had a massive stroke 26 years ago today (August 23, 1983) when he was 51 and I was 49. It was a stroke that left him in a coma and then hospitalized for 4 months. He still could not get out of a chair by himself after all that time which lets you imagine how disabled he was. His was also rt. side paralysis and speech deficits. After a year he started to have a problem with seizures, so he had to wait a little longer to drive. He drove well and often for more than 23 years and then decided that he would stop and use transport for handicapped and my role would expand, although I don't enjoy driving and always say that I drive 6 miles in any direction from my house. I am happy that your mother took control and was able to achieve the independence and freedom that driving gives her. I am 75 now and we don't really get much family support, but we have each other, a comfortable home, and I still work 4 days a week so that we can keep up home maintenance without sacrifice. My husband was never able to work again because of the aphasia, so I stepped up to the plate and I am still swinging the bat. I have never been on a caregiver web site before, but because of today's anniversary, I felt drawn to the computer for this little conversation. For more than a third of my life I have been a caregiver without many breaks for respite. Work is my respite, I guess. Good luk to all who find themselves in the position of being a young caregiver - it's not easy, but you do what you have to do. My husband had a massive stroke 26 years ago today (August 23, 1983) when he was 51 and I was 49. It was a stroke that left him in a coma and then hospitalized for 4 months. He still could not get out of a chair by himself after all that time which lets you imagine how disabled he was. His was also rt. side paralysis and speech deficits. After a year he started to have a problem with seizures, so he had to wait a little longer to drive. He drove well and often for more than 23 years and then decided that he would stop and use transport for handicapped and my role would expand, although I don’t enjoy driving and always say that I drive 6 miles in any direction from my house. I am happy that your mother took control and was able to achieve the independence and freedom that driving gives her. I am 75 now and we don’t really get much family support, but we have each other, a comfortable home, and I still work 4 days a week so that we can keep up home maintenance without sacrifice. My husband was never able to work again because of the aphasia, so I stepped up to the plate and I am still swinging the bat. I have never been on a caregiver web site before, but because of today’s anniversary, I felt drawn to the computer for this little conversation. For more than a third of my life I have been a caregiver without many breaks for respite. Work is my respite, I guess. Good luk to all who find themselves in the position of being a young caregiver – it’s not easy, but you do what you have to do.

]]> Comment on Site Index by Jim Ferraro http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/site-index/#comment-2545 Jim Ferraro Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:15:24 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?page_id=52#comment-2545 I am a 46 year old male. My wife has been in chronic pain since October 2004. At the time our twin daughtets weren't even 2, and our son was 6 months. In October 08, my wife had back surgury, that they had to redo, becasue they did the wrong disk. She is on heavy pain meds. For the last almost 5 years I have had to carry the load. I am looking for a group to join of people with similar experiances of carrying for a loved on at an early age, and how they have dealt with the issues they have faced. Thanks Jim I am a 46 year old male. My wife has been in chronic pain since October 2004. At the time our twin daughtets weren’t even 2, and our son was 6 months. In October 08, my wife had back surgury, that they had to redo, becasue they did the wrong disk. She is on heavy pain meds. For the last almost 5 years I have had to carry the load.

I am looking for a group to join of people with similar experiances of carrying for a loved on at an early age, and how they have dealt with the issues they have faced.

Thanks

Jim

]]> Comment on Driving Post Stroke, a Caregivers Perspective by Alston http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/driving-post-stroke-a-caregivers-perspective/#comment-2544 Alston Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:20:23 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=267#comment-2544 I spent a lot of time watching my mother take care of my father after his strokes. I think it was one of the things that shaped our family and my character. Hearing about your situation brings me back to that time. I later was given the privilege of helping my mother after she was hit by lung cancer. I was able to give my mother back some of the care she had given me. It was really hard work and we lost our home trying to keep her out of a nursing home as long as possible. But it fed my soul in a way that few other experiences ever have. My son saw me care for his grandmother when we spent time together on the weekends. (His mother and I were divorced.) He's all grown up now and has made me a grandfather. I think that I can see some of the ways that his character was shaped by helping me care for his grandmother. He has is a level of compassion and empathy for others that not everyone has. Bless you and your mom. Glad to see her on the road again! I spent a lot of time watching my mother take care of my father after his strokes. I think it was one of the things that shaped our family and my character.

Hearing about your situation brings me back to that time.

I later was given the privilege of helping my mother after she was hit by lung cancer. I was able to give my mother back some of the care she had given me.

It was really hard work and we lost our home trying to keep her out of a nursing home as long as possible. But it fed my soul in a way that few other experiences ever have.

My son saw me care for his grandmother when we spent time together on the weekends. (His mother and I were divorced.)

He’s all grown up now and has made me a grandfather. I think that I can see some of the ways that his character was shaped by helping me care for his grandmother. He has is a level of compassion and empathy for others that not everyone has.

Bless you and your mom. Glad to see her on the road again!

]]> Comment on Caregiving and Long-Term Care: Obama vs. McCain by l lebeau http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/caregiving-and-long-term-care-obama-vs-mccain/#comment-2543 l lebeau Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:57:51 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=147#comment-2543 In regaurds to caregiving for my Dad as much as it is a labor of love it doesn't pay the bills. If mothers get aid for being displaced workers as well as education. Why can't caregivers for elderly family members that can't live independently and are in there last precious days have the same benefits? Food stamps? Tax breaks? subsidized rent? It,s not like they can take advantage of the system when the situation would be a more temporary one. Also, our elderly are knowledgable people and have a vital roll in our sociaty, I, as well as his grandchildren that come to visit learn something new from my father every day this is very important to thier developement and our future. Is there any kind of supliment that I don,t know about? please help! L LeBeau In regaurds to caregiving for my Dad as much as it is a labor of love it doesn’t pay the bills. If mothers get aid for being displaced workers as well as education. Why can’t caregivers for elderly family members that can’t live independently and are in there last precious days have the same benefits? Food stamps? Tax breaks? subsidized rent?
It,s not like they can take advantage of the system when the situation would be a more temporary one. Also, our elderly are knowledgable people and have a vital roll in our sociaty, I, as well as his grandchildren that come to visit learn something new from my father every day this is very important to thier developement and our future. Is there any kind of supliment that I don,t know about? please help!
L LeBeau

]]> Comment on Being a Young Caregiver by Fran http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/being-a-young-caregiver/#comment-2542 Fran Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:41:23 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-2542 My heart goes out to all of the caregivers young and old this is not an easy task but it is time consuming and so demanding. I too have been a caregiver of my husband of 35 years. He has had something Not totally sure what caused it, he has total disability of the cognitive type. Some have diagnosed him with dementia but certainly not your typical symptoms. I took care of him at home for over 18 years, so this started when he was around 40 and I was about 37. He is now in a nursing facility and I am not sure which is more difficult, having him home with the 24/7 care or having him there where I get to fight all the time about his care and then to live with the guilt of feeling as if I have abandoned him and being a quitter. God bless each and every caregiver. NO ONE knows what you are going through unless they themselves go through it too. My heart goes out to all of the caregivers young and old this is not an easy task but it is time consuming and so demanding. I too have been a caregiver of my husband of 35 years. He has had something Not totally sure what caused it, he has total disability of the cognitive type. Some have diagnosed him with dementia but certainly not your typical symptoms. I took care of him at home for over 18 years, so this started when he was around 40 and I was about 37. He is now in a nursing facility and I am not sure which is more difficult, having him home with the 24/7 care or having him there where I get to fight all the time about his care and then to live with the guilt of feeling as if I have abandoned him and being a quitter.
God bless each and every caregiver. NO ONE knows what you are going through unless they themselves go through it too.

]]> Comment on Driving Post Stroke, a Caregivers Perspective by Elizabeth http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/driving-post-stroke-a-caregivers-perspective/#comment-2541 Elizabeth Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:09:06 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=267#comment-2541 What great news for your mom. hang in there, though! What great news for your mom. hang in there, though!

]]> Comment on Driving Post Stroke, a Caregivers Perspective by Reggie Hendricks http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/driving-post-stroke-a-caregivers-perspective/#comment-2527 Reggie Hendricks Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:57:17 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=267#comment-2527 Bum Bum Jitterbug! Jitterbug! Jitterbuuuuuuuuuuug! I know you all love the commercial (here's the link in case you haven't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNdw4CfbwQg), and golly does that phone do the trick! I'm a longtime reader, third time commenter, and I have got to say that the Jitterbug brand cell phone is just the tops! Believe it or not, after Swifty (my companion canine) passed away following a protracted illness, I acquired a capuchin companion monkey from a now defunct carnival near my house. Sprinkles is a real gas, and I've taught him to use the Jitterbug to order me pizza from a local trattoria! It was difficult at first- believe me there were a few accidental calls to the fire department that resulted in a few angry visits from the fire marshall- but eventually I read the manual and figured out how to overwrite the presets. I programmed the CORRECT number into all three of the big 'shortcut' buttons, and when he calls, they know that it's Big Reg, and that I'm looking for a Godfather Special with no onions! I'm happy to hear that your caretaker is doing better, and your modified car gives me some ideas about other things I might modify to make the house more accessible to Sprinkles. No, in case you're thinking it, I'm not going to let the little bugger drive- he can barely operate the Jitterbug, and that thing is easier to use than an unpeeled banana! I'm thinking more along the lines of a modified blender- maybe with just one big button for him to push (for when he makes my breakfast shakes)- a modified television- with an LCD screen that isn't so susceptible to falling off the wall when he climbs on it- and maybe even a lever system for the refrigerator, so Sprinkles can get his own damn beers! I don’t know if you’ve considered it, but a companion primate is a wonderful addition to any home, especially if your mother is just getting back on her feet. I know Sprinkles has really helped lift my spirits with his funny antics, and because he has the mental powers of a primate, he’s better to have conversations with than Swifty was- god rest his soul. Keep up the good work, Sprinkles and I are watching. Bum Bum Jitterbug! Jitterbug! Jitterbuuuuuuuuuuug!

I know you all love the commercial (here’s the link in case you haven’t seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNdw4CfbwQg), and golly does that phone do the trick! I’m a longtime reader, third time commenter, and I have got to say that the Jitterbug brand cell phone is just the tops! Believe it or not, after Swifty (my companion canine) passed away following a protracted illness, I acquired a capuchin companion monkey from a now defunct carnival near my house. Sprinkles is a real gas, and I’ve taught him to use the Jitterbug to order me pizza from a local trattoria! It was difficult at first- believe me there were a few accidental calls to the fire department that resulted in a few angry visits from the fire marshall- but eventually I read the manual and figured out how to overwrite the presets. I programmed the CORRECT number into all three of the big ’shortcut’ buttons, and when he calls, they know that it’s Big Reg, and that I’m looking for a Godfather Special with no onions!

I’m happy to hear that your caretaker is doing better, and your modified car gives me some ideas about other things I might modify to make the house more accessible to Sprinkles. No, in case you’re thinking it, I’m not going to let the little bugger drive- he can barely operate the Jitterbug, and that thing is easier to use than an unpeeled banana! I’m thinking more along the lines of a modified blender- maybe with just one big button for him to push (for when he makes my breakfast shakes)- a modified television- with an LCD screen that isn’t so susceptible to falling off the wall when he climbs on it- and maybe even a lever system for the refrigerator, so Sprinkles can get his own damn beers!

I don’t know if you’ve considered it, but a companion primate is a wonderful addition to any home, especially if your mother is just getting back on her feet. I know Sprinkles has really helped lift my spirits with his funny antics, and because he has the mental powers of a primate, he’s better to have conversations with than Swifty was- god rest his soul. Keep up the good work, Sprinkles and I are watching.

]]> Comment on my new blog for caregivers by Kathy http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/my-new-blog-for-caregivers/#comment-2431 Kathy Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:57:45 +0000 http://caregiversupport.wordpress.com/?p=3#comment-2431 Sara, congratulations on finding the secret to a successful blog. I am new at this and would very much like any tips you have on how you got yours done and how others are finding you. I just created my own blog for caregivers because I can speak very knowledgeably of what people need to know when they cannot take care of their loved ones themselves and have to get help. I work for a local hospice so I have seen the whole scenario from the time a parent or loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness....not just cancer...but Alzheimer's and other end of life diseases that eventually require 24/7 care. While many of us worked for years to take care of our frail loved one, we also had to eventually return to work to support our families. That is when it really gets tricky. Finding a good private caregiver or a well established residential care facility can really be a challenge. And for families who think they can rest once mom or dad are finally placed...guess again. Anyway, there is much I have to add to the conversation. I don't know how you will find my blog but would love for you to follow me on Blogger at caregivingsos. What I have learned is not in any of the text books and can help people when they realize they can't do it all and have to depend on outside caregivers. Any ideas you have for how my blog on choosing caregivers...what you need to know...would be very helpful. In the meantime, cherish every moment you have with you mom. I have lost two...but I never regretted the times I took meal over to them...even on my toughest day at work. Those are the things we hang on to....that live in our hearts...long after our loved ones have completed their journey. Be Well Kathy Sara, congratulations on finding the secret to a successful blog. I am new at this and would very much like any tips you have on how you got yours done and how others are finding you. I just created my own blog for caregivers because I can speak very knowledgeably of what people need to know when they cannot take care of their loved ones themselves and have to get help.

I work for a local hospice so I have seen the whole scenario from the time a parent or loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness….not just cancer…but Alzheimer’s and other end of life diseases that eventually require 24/7 care.

While many of us worked for years to take care of our frail loved one, we also had to eventually return to work to support our families. That is when it really gets tricky. Finding a good private caregiver or a well established residential care facility can really be a challenge. And for families who think they can rest once mom or dad are finally placed…guess again.

Anyway, there is much I have to add to the conversation. I don’t know how you will find my blog but would love for you to follow me on Blogger at caregivingsos.

What I have learned is not in any of the text books and can help people when they realize they can’t do it all and have to depend on outside caregivers. Any ideas you have for how my blog on choosing caregivers…what you need to know…would be very helpful.

In the meantime, cherish every moment you have with you mom. I have lost two…but I never regretted the times I took meal over to them…even on my toughest day at work. Those are the things we hang on to….that live in our hearts…long after our loved ones have completed their journey.

Be Well
Kathy

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