Alzheimer's Disease Professional and Family Caregiving Platform
Caregiver Needed
This is a request from a client who needs a caregiver for her mom:
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for talking to me at length today and for your openness to get the word out into your network for me.
What I'm looking for is basically a very patient and caring companion for my mom. She doesn't have any real needs; it's basically just that I don't want her to be alone as much as she is and I'd like to be able to get her out of the house and see her more often, so I'd like someone who would not mind taking her out to my house and/or little runs to Starbucks or something.
My mom has Frontal Temporal Dementia, which is a relatively rare dementia with very early onset and, in her case, most of her problem is in semantics, so she has the subtype called Semantic Dementia. She has a very difficult time saying what she means and, much of the time recently, she says something that isn't related to what she's actually trying to communicate. She says yes when she means no, she says feather when she means pillow, etc. She has a pretty structured routine and a very small world, so just knowing her for a short while allows one to easily figure out what she's trying to communicate, most of the time. That said, it's still frustrating. She's also very physically fit and can run faster than most and pull even the strongest folks around to show them what she means. She never hurts anyone - I've verified this with the folks at Rosewood and her other companion (and she never hurts me), but she definitely gets frustrated and stamps her feet, pounds her hands on her legs, cries and yells.
But so much of the time, she's quite pleasant and sweet (which she really is all the time, on the inside!).
I'd really like someone to spend time with her all day Tuesdays, all day Wednesdays and in the mornings on Thursdays. When I say all day, though, it really is flexible, as those are the days that she is all alone, at this point, so anything would be great!
Thank you again, for all of your help.
Lauren Marini
434-906-7810 (cell)
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for talking to me at length today and for your openness to get the word out into your network for me.
What I'm looking for is basically a very patient and caring companion for my mom. She doesn't have any real needs; it's basically just that I don't want her to be alone as much as she is and I'd like to be able to get her out of the house and see her more often, so I'd like someone who would not mind taking her out to my house and/or little runs to Starbucks or something.
My mom has Frontal Temporal Dementia, which is a relatively rare dementia with very early onset and, in her case, most of her problem is in semantics, so she has the subtype called Semantic Dementia. She has a very difficult time saying what she means and, much of the time recently, she says something that isn't related to what she's actually trying to communicate. She says yes when she means no, she says feather when she means pillow, etc. She has a pretty structured routine and a very small world, so just knowing her for a short while allows one to easily figure out what she's trying to communicate, most of the time. That said, it's still frustrating. She's also very physically fit and can run faster than most and pull even the strongest folks around to show them what she means. She never hurts anyone - I've verified this with the folks at Rosewood and her other companion (and she never hurts me), but she definitely gets frustrated and stamps her feet, pounds her hands on her legs, cries and yells.
But so much of the time, she's quite pleasant and sweet (which she really is all the time, on the inside!).
I'd really like someone to spend time with her all day Tuesdays, all day Wednesdays and in the mornings on Thursdays. When I say all day, though, it really is flexible, as those are the days that she is all alone, at this point, so anything would be great!
Thank you again, for all of your help.
Lauren Marini
434-906-7810 (cell)
Tags: Cargiver
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nico Stanculescu on -
Hi Elizabeth - there are various ways to help. the local Alzheimer's Association or Area Agency on Aging, the Virginia Department for the Aging - all could provide concrete solutions which could be reviewed and explored. i'm sure you have suggested these - any luck with them?
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Swider on -
Hi Nico. Yes, those resources are fantastic, but they mostly point to the local companion and home health care agencies. (I work with those same agencies myself in my care coordination work.) This daughter hasn't been happy with the agencies so is looking outside of them for a private placement.
Thanks for your interest and taking the time to communicate about it!
Elizabeth
Care is There
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Permalink Reply by Nico Stanculescu on
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hmmm... i hear you....
incidentally, Elizabeth, i wonder if you might have an hour to spend with us on the upcoming live discussion on respite care - we have three panelists listed here: http://www.alzpossible.org/newsletter/respite.html - with your permission, i can also send your question...
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Swider on
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Tell me more!
My approach to caregiving is slightly non-traditional. My company helps families by being their "person on the ground" with Mom or Dad, their "spare daughter" who gets things done, their concierge, if you will. We are fast, innovative, and creative. We orgainize the care, pick up the prescriptions, get the refrigerator fixed, take the dog to the vet, take Mom to synagogue in the new town to which she just relocated to be near her kids, etc.
So we don't hire social workers or nurses, necessarily (though we pull them into the care team when they are needed.) We hire smart, energetic, creative, can-do people who figure it out and get it done.
Are we a good fit for your panel?
BTW, I'm launching a new collaborative website (Ning-based) where all the Charlottesville-area senior care providers will share info. I'd love for you to join and will send you the info soon!
Elizabeth
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