My favorite aunt was a caregiver to my grandfather for years until the day her Dad died.  In stature my aunt was petite.  In her care of my grandfather, my aunt was larger than life.  I don’t know how she did it, truthfully, as she was disabled by polio in her childhood.  My aunt was unable to walk for many years in her childhood due to the effects of polio on her body.

Now that I am 52 years old, I remember, and think of my aunt more fondly than ever before.  I have walked a mile in her caregiver’s shoes.  More than 10 years after her death, my full-time caregiving routines are clearly my beloved aunt’s legacy of caring for our elders.

I’ve had plenty time to think about when, where, and, how my carer’s journey may have begun.  My caregiving journey did not begin when I left a full-time paying job in November 2008 to become a full-time, stay-at-home caregiver to my Mom.

When it finally became clear to me that my mother needed full-time assistive care for the duration, without hesitation, I chose to do the caregiving honors.  Had my Dad outlived my Mom, I would have made the same decision to care for my father.  I would not be here today were it not for loving parents who cared for me.  Eldercare is the very least I can do to honor my parents now that my Mom needs assistive living support.

Caregiving opportunities to our elders come once-in-a-lifetime. Jobs come and go, especially in this economy.  I only have one go-round in this life to be a caregiver to my beloved octogenarian mother.  This is it. Caregiving is not a dress rehearsal.  Caregiving is life 101.

Elder Care Stories and Legends

I was no more than 10 years old when I read a book of stories given to me by my favorite uncle.  The picture book of Bible stories included the story of Ruth and Naomi, a beautiful story of caring for one’s elders.

16 “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” ~ Ruth 1:16, King James Version

What resonated within my spirit when I first read the story of Ruth and Naomi was the choice to not [abandon] an aging loved one when the elder’s life was almost over.  Although Ruth and Naomi happen to be Biblical characters, religion is not germane to my enduring enchantment with caring for our elders.

Ask any caregiver how he or she became a caregiver and be prepared to be amazed at the variety of reasons individuals are led to, or, even stumble into carers’ roles.  In my almost 2-year full-time caregiving journey, I have nothing but respect and increasing empathy for healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, unit clerks, housekeepers, nurses’ aides, and anyone remotely associated with patient care, long-term care, or individuals who provide assistive living support.  My hat’s off to care workers everywhere.

We have each walked miles in each other’s shoes and “*have miles to go before we sleep.”

Welcome to ElderCarelink.com, where eldercare providers and caregivers speak the common language of caring.  It’s great to be here.

*Denotes phrase from Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening,” 1923.

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”

Posted in Caregiving, Caring At Home, Support | 2 Comments »
Tags: Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi, caregivers' stories, demands on healthcare personnel, mentors in caregiving, promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep poem, Robert Frost poem Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, Ruth 1:16, unpaid family caregivers