1) “We held a family meeting when Mom and Pops continued to deteriorate in their health. They had reached the stage where they couldn’t live alone any longer. Mom almost burned the house down, and Pops started roaming all over the neighborhood asking people where he lived. At the meeting, everybody had reasons why they couldn’t be primary caregivers. They either lived out of town or had other obligations they said interfered. Several of them mentioned that I lived in town and didn’t have as many responsibilities as they did. I don’t know how they could make assumptions like that about what’s going on in my life. I don’t tell them most of my personal business. Anyway, I finally agreed to be the primary caregiver, but only if they would all make a written commitment with me. We made a list of what everybody would do to help on a regular basis. I can truthfully say they all are doing what they promised, including contributing money to our parents’ care. Knowing I can always count on them helps me a lot and makes my parents proud of the way we are handling things.”
2) “If you look at who’s taking care of my daddy now, you wouldn’t know he had three other children besides me. The others hardly do anything for him, and I’m always asking them to help out. Before you start thinking he was a bad father when we were growing up, let me tell you he wasn’t. If you want to know the truth, he was too good to us. My trifling sisters and brothers just took him for granted. Now they know Daddy is confused with Alzheimer’s disease, so they use that as another excuse not to come see him. They figure he won’t miss them. My siblings are a disgrace. Everything is on me.”
3) “My mother was the kind of person who never should have had children. She was into drugs and the fast life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I prayed for her to change, but she never did. She left us alone a lot, even at night. Finally, my grandmother stepped up and raised my sisters and me. Bless her soul. She died six years ago. We made sure she didn’t want for anything. My mother is dying now, and I’m the only one who will go see about her. My sisters say she’s getting what she deserves for all those years she chose dope over us. I don’t judge them because I know how they feel. I’m still angry with her myself, but I come see about her anyway. I guess I want to be a better person than she is.”
Most people don’t set out to become primary caregivers. Few people talk about caregivers who feel depressed, guilty, trapped in a hole with no way out, except the death of persons in their care. Millions of people provide care to an ill or disabled adult. While many embrace their responsibilities and welcome the chance to serve others, there are also many who feel alone and abandoned. Caregivers all need ongoing support to be effective as caregivers and as healthy people themselves. Assistance is available from your city and state agencies. AARP assistance is available for caregivers at this website and these phone numbers: aarp.org/caregiving
Phone: Toll-Free Nationwide: 1-877-333-5885
Toll-Free Spanish: 1-877-342-2277
International Calls: +1-202-434-3525
TTY user dial 711
-English: 1-877-434-7598
-Spanish: 1-866-238-9488
Hours: Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. ET
Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available in paperback and e-book editions in America and other countries at online and offline booksellers.
Frances Shani Parker's Website
