Serious question. I am going to hire a certified nurses aid for my Grandmother from now on when I travel. I need to do this for peace of mind and becasue she is so old and frail now. I have been her caretaker for 16 yrs with the last two years being the hardest. I don't feel guilty doing this but I work 45-50 hours a week and then take care of her, my birds and my gardens when i get home, along with the usual household duties and i need a break sometimes to enjoy just myself.

I have found a place that meets my needs and I will meet with the owner and two of his aides for an in-home session on July 18th.

Has anybody else had to hire a caretaker for their loved one and what kind of experience did you have in doing so??

I work for an adult day care, and just want to say that it's good to admit when you need some help

That stuff can be very expensive, but it's worth it for everyone's mental & physical health!

There are lots of options, especially in big metro areas

But bad stuff does happen occasionally, so keep your eyes open. Good luck!

hey rach
I too am at this point, my mother is still able to function she just needs a little help. The best advice I have been given is to go with an agency as opposed to a private person, that way you have some recourse and some back up if the person can't make it to work that day. It will be more expensive and if granny is like my mom she will be trying the nurse from day one, not negatively, but just pushing boundaries to make sure she is safe. My mother is strong willed and strong minded and gives me hell But at 83 almost 84 it has become more than apparent that she needs someone around 24 hours a day.

I have found a great agency that does background checks, provides worker's comp and is licencsed and bonded!! The cost for an adie would be 17.00 per hour I just need her to get my Grandmother up in the mornings, clean her up and dress her and fix her breakfast, change the bed. An afternoon visit and snack, then an evening bath, change in nite gown and warm up her dinner.

I will have all the food cooked, the fridge stocked and her other supllies. My Grandmother casn still stay by herself she does everyday while I am at work. My job is a mile from ome so I check on her during lunch break. Plus 2 neighbors have keys and go in to check on her as well.

NDRU said:

I gotta co-sign on that!

I will have a sit down face to face meeting with them on July 18th and see how is goes from there!!

I hope everything goes well for you

I take care of my Mom very often to give my dad the daily breaks he nees from her.

When I go away for a weeks vacation I do hire an in home part time care nurse to help.

It is good to know when you need help and good to take much needed breaks away when you are the caregiver for againg family

My sister and I take care of our mother who has Alzhiemers. Between the two of us we can handle her now, but its a 24 hour job. We know at some point we will put her in a care facility. We are waiting until she gets to the point where she can't tell where she is, otherwise I just don't believe she will adjust well. Fortunely, we have our other sister who can take her when we need a break.
Hang in there.

[Edited 7/7/08 7:08am]

Missy is ur Mother on the drugs Aricept and Namaenda?? Those have helped my Grandmother tremendously!!! ANd start checking into faclities now and get ur name on the list because the care facilities fill-up quick and you need to research one now.

I dont have anybody to help me my family is worthless, in jail, on drugs or just plain irresponsible so I can't and don't look to them for any thing!!

My nick name is Missy

My Mom has Alzhiemers too

and they just switched her from Aricept to some new drug

observe every little thing when going to this meeting. Make sure you review all background checks carefully. Ask any and all questions. Make sure it feels right.

Not all medical personnel are professional and fair. Please remember this.
Find someone who cares about what they do, and who they work for. Dedication is the key.

Thanks Amorbella and they will be coming to OUR HOUSE!!! The owner will present me with a background check and I will do my own as well!!! The person must "feel" right for me to accept her. They will be there for 2 hours. I already have my list of questions ready too.

My two neighbors have keys and I will let them know to drop in anytime they want and check her out!! Call me 24-7 to give me details, call the police if you need to.

My Grandmother has always been mild mannered and let things slide I dont I look at everything. Plus I will type out my own list of instructions as to keep her routine the same while I am gone and how I want her to be cared for.

The company has A plus rating with no complaints from the Better Business Bureau and no lawsuits against it.

I have been caring for my 65 year old Mother now for 6 years,and I get tired of it ocassionaly. But I just think back 2 all the years she took care of me and say hey do what U have 2 do ! I do have a company that comes out and helps her bathe and plays cards and visits with her. So that is a blessing ! Good luck Rachel and the best 2 U and your Mother !

rachel3 said:

welcome

Mach said:

Is it Namenda?
My Mom is on both Aricept and Namenda.

My Grandmother is on both Namenda and Aricept. She was on Namenda for a year before Aricpet was added and it has worked wonders for the past 4 yrs she has not deterieorated any furthur!!1

for all of the caregivers. It is a trying task but can be so rewarding. My mom suffered strokes a year and a half ago which left her with some dementia. She fell this Mother's Day ~ fortunately I was a little later with my second visit that evening or she would have lain on the floor all night. She was in a nursing home for 6 weeks but insisted she needed to " get away from all the damn sick people" so she worked very hard in physical therapy and came home last week. She has LifeLine and several people coming in for home care and my sister and I are there every day at least twice to cook meals, do laundry, take her for walks etc. I am trying to find that balance so everything gets done and so I still have a bit of time to do the things I love, and fit in 40 ~ 50 hours of work a week but it's hard. She's so grateful to be home though that it makes it all worth it. My mom is also on Aricept and Namenda and it has made a world of difference. I love her more every day. to all of you.

Nothinbutjoy said:

my nan has just come out of respite care (2 weeks- she thought she was in hospital )
my uncle- who is her carer- has her on a waiting list 4 full time care. he works full time- and cant be with her all the time- and she needs this now - dementia has her waiting at the door 4 her children to come home from school- and her husband (who passed away 12 yrs ago) to come home from work
he has looked after her 4 yrs- but she has progressively gotten worse.
it was a hard decision 4 him- but one that the family fully supports.

good luck rachel with whatever u decide to do

and to everyone who cares 4 an elderly relative