MY PERSONAL JOURNEY
There is always help available for family members, and friends who are caring for those with Dementia. As I cared for many people across the years; those with Dementia, and those without caregivers learn the essential tools necessary to have in their toolbox when assisting individuals with major health challenges. I have been very passionate and concerned for patients with Dementia and Alzheimer's due to its roots running very heavily in my family. I cared for my husband who had Juvenile Diabetes, along with other health issues. In caring for my husband, I had the opportunity to learn from his nurse who was a R.N. for many years. In those days nurses would make house calls and carry their little black bag with all their medical essentials in the bag. This nurse made her rounds twice a week and she was my husband's nurse for years. One day she looked at me, and told me to get up, she wanted to show me something. My husband Robert Lewis had a serious ulcer on the bottom of his foot. To my surprise she wanted to teach me how to care for his ulcer. After she finished instructing me on how to correctly clean the wound and dress his foot, she said "that looks like a nurse wrapped it". During the next week she taught me about the different types of insulin, and how to draw up the needles, and administer shots. She taught me numerous things, and then she told Robert and I that we didn't need her anymore. I registered with Illinois Department of Rehabilitation and became his paid caregiver. I was very nervous but taking care of my husband was very important.
CARING FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS
In 2012 I moved to Atlanta, GA, and became involved with the Alzheimer's Foundation, as a volunteer. I attended several group meetings where I met other family members who had joined for the same reasons they had watched their loved one's battle Dementia. Alot of members shared their stories of how Dementia was in their family. I also shared my story of how my uncles, and aunts all had battled Dementia. I soon realized my journey had purpose.
A few years later I meet Christopher-Charles Chaney the author of the book Mama Peaches & Me. We worked together for a few months, I was the Host of my own Podcast, Mr. Chaney was a caregiver for his mother who suffered with Dementia, and he was a caregiver to another neighbor who had health issues. Mr. Chaney was dear friend he supported my show by purchasing commercial highlighting his book, and other businesses. Mr. Chaney is also the Founder of The CareLiving Foundation. It was a pleasure to work with Christopher there was synergy, and the common interest of helping support individuals who are living with Dementia. This is where I learned a lot about caregiving for individuals with Dementia.
In previous years while living in Chicago I had signed up to participate in an Alzheimer/Dementia study at Rush Medical Center. The purpose of the study was to gather information to help researcher further understand the disease.
THE CAREGIVER'S TOOLBOX
The Alzheimer's Foundation gave me many tips as to how a caregiver should equip the home when caring for a patient with Dementia. The many tips and resources were invaluable, the toolbox is extremely necessary in order to survive caring for loved ones. Some of the most essential tips were:
1) Keeping the home very organized - This well help the caregiver quickly find items around the home when the patient picks up items and misplace them.
2) Keeping at least 5 or 6 of everything that is essential: items such as Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Pens, Note Pads, (this helps the caregiver to quickly be able to keep stress reduced to a minimum when those items are needed.
3) Watching your tone when speaking to the patient -
4) Learning how to be patient, and calm (being able to receptiveness of the patient)
5) A strong support system and respite care is essential for all caregivers to stay healthy during the process of caregiving.
AFTER-CARE OF A CAREGIVER
