Welcome to my new blog “A Scoop of Caregivers Wisdom!” I am not a traditional caregiver, I have operated an adult day care center for 28 years and cared for seniors, disabled adults, and young adults with intellectual disabilities. In the early 90’s we opened our program to serve senior citizens and within the second year of being opened we expanded our services to include disabled adults and those with intellectual disabilities because of the need for services for these individuals and their families in our community. Through this blog I will share my “caregiving” story.
I have had the opportunity to interact and support many caregivers over the years and see firsthand the struggles that they face in caring for someone they love. Caregiving can occur abruptly in someone’s life or if can occur in stages as they watch their loved one decline over years. Many people never expect to become a caregiver and often are overwhelmed with the new responsibilities and are unaware of how to find supports and assistance to be successful. Caregiving along with other obligations such as their full-time job and taking care of their family can place additional stress and pressure on them and effect their quality of life.
I graduated with a degree in Long Term Care Administration in 1992 and opened an Adult Day Care Center soon after. Through this blog I hope to share my stories, experiences and knowledge that I have gained through the center that I have operated over the last 28 years and my relationships with caregivers, local and state agencies, and professionals in the field.
I look to touch on topics that every caregiver can relate to such as supports that assist caregivers in caring for their loved ones, stress, juggling responsibilities, etc. as well as specific areas such as diagnosis, funding for services, special diets, etc. I would also like to highlight a caregiver’s story each month. Through someone else’s story caregivers will be able to gain some insight into another caregiver’s experiences, see how they handled situations, managed setbacks and celebrate their successes.
Get ready for “A Scoop of Caregivers Wisdom!”
1 Comment