Greetings community! I apologize for taking so long to do my next post. Anything can happen. First we had a fire and then the mud slides began after rain then I fell ill for a week which leads me to my next conversation with you all. We are aware that things happen such as natural disasters for one. This is part of end of life care that we should consider. We want to make sure we have all of these proper paper work in order that I discussed in my last post. We want to keep them somewhere safe and easily accessible to grab in the event you must leave your home in a quick and efficient manner. As well as any medication for yourself or animals you own. Its also good to have some cash on hand and you can keep items in a duffel bag ready to go but I would like to go even further and discuss more about caring for someone at home. In home care is optimal but does not always work out. There are many options to caring for someone that is unable to be cared for at home such as nursing facilities and assisted living places but lets focus on in home care. Not everyone is a care giver just like not everyone can be an astronaut and that is perfectly fine. So if you are faced with that question, please consider the following…it can be very beautiful to take care of someone and also takes an enormous amount of patience, physical and mental endurance, and you may even experience spiritual fatigue. You must ask yourself if this is something you can do and also recognizing your limitations and where your relationship is in regards to whom you are caring for. Are there past situations that turned into problems and never got resolved? What does it look like financially for that person. Is it feasible to hire more help? Will there only be one person caring for the person? Here are a few things you can do so that it doesn’t fall all on one or two people. It takes a village folks and there are many resources to name just a few, meals on wheels. So many times we are caring for our seniors and stoves get left on and they are no longer able to cook. Meals on wheels is available in most states. They are home cooked meals that get delivered to the house and they cannot just drop food off on the porch. Someone has to open the door to receive the meal and thats a welfare check once a day mon-fri. Meals on wheels also has a social worker that can connect clients and families to other resources they may need. Local churches is another great resource to help with visiting or even have the chaplain come and do home services or help get client to church. Many Catholic churches for example can help with some food and supplies. Also, talk to neighbors to help come visit with folks or bring meals. Every little thing counts. Medicare and Medicaid and other insurance companies can also help with some of the cost of caring for someone at home. Its important to remember that building community for your loved one not only helps your loved ones thrive but helps the caregivers as well. I would like to elaborate more for next time! Until then, thank you for reading and many blessings to you all.
Caring for Someone at Home: Preparing, Planning, and Building a Village
