We hear the anxiety in a person’s voice when they call in for help. Their breathing is shallow; their words start coming a mile a minute; something big has shifted in their life and the lives of their loved ones.
• After mom passed, dad moved in with me, and I never knew he was this bad - I don’t know how mom was taking care of him for so long.
• I get about 3 or 4 hours of sleep if I’m lucky. Dad will wake up in the middle of the night thinking it’s time to start his day.
• I feel like I must always stay in the room with him.
After a night of tossing and turning, the caregiver leaves for work in the morning with a knot in her stomach, not knowing how many times dad will call. Just the thought of having to ask her supervisor for permission to leave creates severe anxiety.
• I’ll still have to miss my son’s baseball game to check in on dad.
• My spouse is overwhelmed taking care of the house and kids while I focus on making sure dad’s ok.
By the time the caregiver calls our office, they’re wondering “What are my options? Where do I even start?” After learning that it is not too late to formulate a care plan for-the-future, the family begins to feel relief from their anxiety. Help is coming into the home or dad is safe in a facility, so caregivers can finally get a good night’s sleep.
See our vlog Caregiver #5 – Tough old Bird.