Caregivers

I am in awe of caregivers who give from their heart.

I had a conversation with my sister.  She is a nursing student who is working in a nursing home for the summer.  I could relate to lots of what she was saying since I worked in a nursing home in my teenage years 3 decades ago.

Some nurses and aides display kind and loving behaviour.  Some not so loving.  I remember as a teenager, seeing some aides throw patients into bed and roughly yank them around.

When I worked as an aide I was always respectful to patients and I enjoyed giving them backrubs.  However, I became burned out because I felt really sad when I saw persistent deterioration, atrophy, incapacity and decline in these patients.

My sister on the other hand truly gives from her heart, and for her, the incapacity and deterioration of patients is just more reason to be even more loving.  She is a gem.  I know other caregivers like her who are a blessing to those requiring continuous care.

She told me of a story of an elderly woman with dementia who was very resistant to cooperating with the staff.  Among many acts of resistance, this woman refused to get into her pajamas for bedtime.  Many of the nurses would forcibly yank her clothes off and on to prepare her for bed.  My sister took another approach.

Gently and lovingly she said to the woman:  "Those clothes must be so uncomfortable to sleep with.  Would you like to be more comfortable?"

"Yes okay, that's a good idea", the elderly woman said.  My sister helped her with her pajama bottoms.

"Now, you only have pajama bottoms on.  They don't match your dress do they?"

"No, they don't", said the woman.

"Why don't we change your dress and put on something that matches your bottoms?"

"Yes, I'd like to match my bottoms".

My sister proceeded to help her dress, and prepared her for bedtime.  No yanking, no yelling, no prodding, no pushing.  Just love, patience, and gentleness.

On top of that, my sister works in a nursing home that is severely understaffed and under-equipped, and even though she finds the working environment extremely challenging, she loves working and caring for the old folks.

People who give from their hearts freely and easily while being caregivers, are angels of God.

She is my hero.