Caregiver Specialist
The Greatest Gift
This is a story about my mom and dad. I thought, as did my dad, that the story was
really about my mom but what we discovered was The Greatest Gift of All.
Mom and Dad were married for 58 years and loved their life together, but my mother’s
health was declining. Dad and I would have a regular, repeated conversation. “Dad,
I think we need some assistance to provide care for Mom.” Who better to know than
me? I have a care company, providing care for seniors needing assistance to remain in
their homes, providing support for quality of life, independence and peace of mind.
My staff and I do this every day, assisting our clients and their families.
Dad had many stock answers. Mom’s doing ok. I can handle it. I am better with your mom than anyone else.
Your mom is best with me. Dad and I shared our time, which I’m so grateful for, with my mom. It would give
Dad a break but I could see he w as getting tired.
I had lots of questions to which he had his many
stock answers. What if you get too tired? What if you
get sick? What if I’m not available to help? It didn’t
matter…Dad thought he knew best.
In time, the inevitable happened and Mom spent
some time in the hospital. As with most patients, she
was decidedly unhappy and wanted desperately to go
home. Dad, after our first nights’ report of Mom being
distressed, determined he would stay with her. I can
still see him in the car as we drove to spend the day
with her, announcing he’d brought his tooth brush.
He survived one night, sitting up in a chair, amidst
all the night time activities and noise and unable to
comfort Mom and realized he couldn’t do it. I set
Caregiver Specialist
CARLA AMTHOR
Focus on Caring
[email protected]
Phone 403-264-3839
www.FocusOnCaring.com
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