Monday, November 10, 2008

Outside Caregivers ...... :(

So the time came when Mom had to have someone stay with her during the day so I and my daughter could go to work.
I truthfully do not remember the gals name, and I should try really hard to remember..... she was horrible. She did nothing for mom except cook her breakfast and lunch. No laundry, no dishes from the meals she had prepared, never made mom's bed. I asked Mom one day..... what does she do all day? Sit outside, smokes and talks on her cell phone. It was July, the end of watermelon season, I had to make a decision...... do I stay home with mom or continue with this gal?
I quit my job well, took a leave of absence, to care for mom. It is amazing. When I do things like this it's a gut feeling I need to follow. Mom started having small strokes... every 2 months, she had one for about 6 months. Then in May I decided I would go back to work at the farm to work Watermelons. My aunt stayed with Mom while I worked. I did this for 2 yrs..... only the last time I worked at the farm I decided to stay. I needed more income and I needed health insurance.

My aunt care for Mom for about a yr. My daughter decided then she wanted to stay home to be her caregiver. She was layed off of her job, so of course.....
This was fantastic!
I will say this......... my aunt, my dad's sister, took wonderful care of Mom. I will forever be greatful for her help. My parents divorced many many yrs ago! She loves my mom and Mom loves her too. She is always delighted to see the "Aunties".

Mom had bouts of anger with my daughter, granddaughter. She would hit Leeky with her cane every chance she got, my daughter too. Her cane was thrown out in the garage more times than I care to count.. haha But just like everything else, that went away.
She never went there with me..... maybe she seen me as an authority figure. Who knows what goes on in the minds of people with dementia.