by Sheryl Hunter, CEO of Lifelines Academy & Network
July 31, 2011
Quote of the day, from caregiver daughter to Mom who will not permit anyone to care for her but her daughter: “Mom, you’ve got 9 lives and you’ve taken two of mine”
The 51 year old woman who made this statement to me tonight loves her mother dearly but she is suffering from years of experiencing the plight of the sandwich generation. Example: she is scheduled to take her mother to the doctor’s tomorrow about getting a pacemaker but tonight her 9 year old son came down with a fever. As luck would have it, her husband is away on business. I was delighted to recommend that she call Lifelines Network Member Sean McHale of Home Helpers for sick child coverage tomorrow and also to contact one of our elder law attorney members to evaluate her mother’s long term care planning needs and options. She’s already enjoying the help of Lifelines Network Member Robin Blinder, a professional organizer and senior move manager, who is getting her entire house in order during twice weekly home visits. This is what the Lifelines Network of professionals serving seniors and family caregivers is all about! Ultimately our job is to help you, our members, help them – the seniors and family caregivers who are on their last leg and need a committed, capable and caring person to step in and lend a hand. Thank you to all who have dedicated your lives and built expertise, services and products to serve seniors and family caregivers!
Ah, the sandwich generation…a term I know well. Trying to take care of your children and your parents at the same time is quite a balancing act. You’re often left feeling as if you can never do enough for either of them. Typically, gals like us that are stuck in that sandwich have a hard time asking for help. The good news is…help is out there! Home health care agencies like Harmony Home Health can offer a welcome respite to the caregiver who is stretched in too many directions. It’s more affordable than you might think and can be a true blessing to you and your loved ones. Exploring this option will bring a sense of empowerment to your parent and a measure of freedom to your life as you realize you both can count on someone to periodically offer help with those daily tasks you can never find enough time for. Professional caregivers are often seen as an extension of the family and can bring peace of mind to everyone involved. Being able to rely on a trusted home health agency to provide care for your loved one when you cannot be there is priceless. It’s worth calling for a free in-home assessment to see if this might be the answer to your prayers.