The Caregivers of the World: Hospice

Hospice workers are awesome.  When my mother-in-law lived with us I saw first hand.  They bring in all the equipment you need.  The nurse's are great.  Very caring, informative.  They'll give the patient their meds and teach you how to do it as well.  They schedule days to come in and bathe them.  And my MIL not only had cancer, but she'd also had a stroke a few years earlier and didn't have the use of her tongue.  So they  taught me how to feed her through her feeding tube.

They aren't only there for their patient, but also for you.  They answer your questions, explain the stages of the illness, what's happening, what we could do to make it better, to understand it.  In a way they help us to accept what is imminent and support us after.  They're available 24/7.

My mother-in-law passed so quickly we didn't really have the opportunity to take advantage of all hospice had to offer.  They have many people willing to volunteer their time and talents to make people's last days as comfortable and fulfilling as possible, artists, massage therapists, etc.  Plus there are people who will just come sit with them, talk to them, or read to them.

They inspired me to make my MIL's stay as fun and comfortable as possible also.  So on top of caring for her, I'd pull my karaoke machine in and sing to her, watch movies with her, just sit and talk to her.

We used Franciscan Hospice whose slogan is, We bring light to the end of life, and you know what?  They really do.  If you're looking for a charity to donate too this year, or a way to volunteer your time, consider them. 

Ciao,

Megan

The Caregivers of the World: Baby Sitters

I don't mean just any baby sitter, I mean the really good ones.  The ones that play with  you, that make you milkshakes, that let you stay up a little later than you should, the ones that would read you a bed time story.  When I was growing up, we had a pair of sisters down the street that would come watch us, Caroline and Susan.  I don't remember their last names now, but they were the best baby sitters ever.

When I had kids, it was important to me to find a sitter that would actually watch and play with my kids.  Not one who would talk on the phone, or watch television.  I was lucky enough to find two.  The first one was Teefa.  She was like another daughter to me.  I'd known her since she was about 8 or 9 I think, and she started baby sitting for us when she was 12.  She was very mature for her age, so I felt comfortable leaving my children in her care.  She played games with the kids, watched Disney movies, play Barbies.  She was awesome.

However, she grew up, went to college, and now she's married with kids of her own.  When she went to college and worked, she wasn't as available as she once had been for us. So we called on Erica, the daughter of a family friend.  She was great too, played hide and seek, colored and drew with the kids.  When she would sit, we always came home to art work.

So, I want to give a shout out to those two ladies.  It's so hard to find good baby sitters, and I had two of the best.


Maybe get your sitter a little extra something next time he/she sits, a starbucks card, iTunes, something you know they'd use and enjoy.

Ciao,

Megan