Sunday, April 09, 2006

Hmmmmmmm ~

I am having some blogger problems ~ Hopefully this will work.

I am going to work tonight ~ I havent been working much ~ but I occasionally work for Les and Audrey. They live right here in my town ~ Les has cancer, he is in his 70's ~ he is terminal. I have always known these people but I really get to know them when I work for them. Les has been falling a lot lately when he gets up in the night ~ I will be staying so hopefully Audrey can get some rest and if Les needs to get up I will help him.

People ask me how I can do this job ~ I get really close to these people and their families. I dont know how I do it ~All I know is I try to make them as comfortable as I can. Last summer I worked for Robert and Helene. Robert was in a resthome ~ he had had a stroke. In the resthome they were leaving him in bed or in a wheelchair. Helene and I went and got him out of the resthome last May ~ we brought him home. I went everyday all last summer and walked Robert so his legs would get stronger. Some days he almost walked a whole block, others he couldnt walk as far ~ but he always tried ~ and he always had a smile on his face. Sometimes we would stop and he would just look around. The 3 of us would go out to eat, do a little grocery shopping ~ we always had fun! They had a condo in Florida where they always spent the winters except for the previous winter when Robert had the stroke. They wanted to go to Florida again! I had such mixed feelings about them going. I wanted them to enjoy themselves but I worried about them. Well they went......we would call each other every week. Robert had another stroke..only this time he didnt come out of it ~ he passed away last Fall. And as sad as I was to see Robert go ~ I was so happy that he had the time that he had to walk ~ smell the flowers and fresh mown grass ~ go out to dinner ~ laugh ~ and sleep in his own bed with his loving wife. What better gift could he have had? So yes I am very sad when I lose one of "my People", but I am so glad to be able to help them enjoy whatever they have left and my life is much richer for having known them. Helene and I are still very close ~ she will be home from Florida soon ~ she is still one of "my People". We never fail to say " I love you" when we hang up...because its true.....I loved them both and they loved me.

6 comments:

Dr.John said...

The more I read your blog the more you suprise me. What a wonderful vocation. To care for people who really need help has got to be something special. I know the kind of joy it can give.

B.R.L said...

Bless you. I know it takes special people to do that job but it is so needed.Being a caretaker is wearing and it so nice to have someone give you time to gain your strength so you can give care.

Anonymous said...

You are a very special and rare person with a amazing spirit. I am glad that you try to see the good in things, such as your friend was able to walk and such before he passed. You helped make your friends life easier and more enjoyable through your help and friendship. The world would be a very sad place without people like you.

Catch said...

Thank You Dr John....and caretaking is a great profession...its makes me feel good about being me. I always end up loving " my people" but I think thats what makes me such a good caregiver....

Catch said...

Thank You Betty...I enjoy the job, I enjoy the people , its a perfect job for me!

Thank You also Mimi. Do you know how many people are wasting away in those resthomes when they could be in their homes getting good care, good nutrition, and good company..not to mention living out their last days in a place where they feel comfortable.? Too many to count!

Overwhelmed! said...

I think it's wonderful that you're a caregiver. What a blessing to those you care for.

I used to be a Hospice volunteer. Many of my family and friends didn't understand why I'd want to be near people that were actively dying.

It was such a rewarding position! I met people with beautiful spirits and got to hear fantastic life stories. Sadly, many of those that were dying didn't have many family or friends coming to visit. A big part of my job was to just sit and be a companion.

I have a soft spot in my heart for elderly people (although there were younger people in Hospice as well) that I get from loving my grandmothers!