Care Givers Corner

Lest We Forget!

Thoughts for Care Givers !

A care giver's job is one of the most rewarding jobs a person can do can do.
Some people become care givers by choice, others by accident. They come from all walks of life, and diferent backgrounds.

At first, I thought who & what is a caregiver.Then I found that they are everywhere & needed everywhere. With endless duties & responsibilities.They may not speak your language or you theirs, but there is a need, and a way to fill it.Many will no longer be able to do simple tasks As a person with P.D., the disease progresses their brain may not be able to do many of the tasks they used to do. So, a way must be found to do the job, or a solution found.

They may be on drugs,pain pills,hard of hearing, any of a thousand things.
It is your job to put on your "Happy Face", smile,tell them your name, & say "How can I help"
It is important that you take a mental picture of their home, so that you will know what goes where so you can return things to where they want them.

#1 - If you mess up their bed, YOU MUST FIX IT.
#2 - If you raise up the bed , YOU MUST LOWER IT.
#3 - If you move the wheel chair, YOU MUST PUT IT BACK.
A person arranges their home so that they can find everything, & they expect it to remain there. As a blind man finds his way arround his home, so must all impaired people.
#4 - You must talk at a level, & speed that is comfortable to both of you.
#5 - If you find a light on,ask them if it is to be left on.
#6 - Make sure your hands are warm if you are touching their body.
#7 - Urination in cold weather may present problems
#8 - Don't leave someone sitting unattended on a toilet any longer then you said you would
#9 - Tell the truth, & build their trust.

WHEN IT IS TIME TO GO, IT IS TIME TO ASK THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION OF ALL

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO FOR YOU??

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When I spill some food on my nice clean dress
Or maybe forget to tie my shoe
Please be patient and perhaps reminisce
About the many hours I spent with you

When I taught you how to eat with care
Plus tying laces and your numbers, too
Dressing yourself and combing your hair
Those were precious hours spent with you

So when I FORGET what I was about to say
Just give me a minute -or maybe two
It probably wasn't important anyway
And I would rather listen just to you

If I tell the story one more time
And you know the ending through and through
Please remember your first nusery rhyme
When I rehearsed it a hundred times with you

When my legs are tired and it's hard to stand
Or walk the steady pace that I would like to do
Please take me carefully by my hand
And guide me now as I so often did for you

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Help Needed!

Care Giving is another side of Parkinson’s that I know absolutely nothing about. Information on Care Giving is every bit as important as information for people with Parkinson’s!

So, I am asking for your help.

Please send any information from the needs of the care giver, or the patient that you wish to share to:

Care Giver Information

Thank you!