Caregiver Heroes

Periodically, I’ve been fortunate enough to receive respite grants from Hilarity For Charity. Because my husband has Alzheimer’s Disease, it’s very important that consistency is constant in his life. Fortunately, HomeInstead has beeen bake to get the same caregiver, Maria Jose Dribben. To my husband this is Jos. Maria, has been our neighbor since this development was built. Prior to getting hired by HomeInstead, she consistently volunteered to help me with my husband as his cognitive brain disorder progressed. Maria, A widow and mother of two, works as a caregiver in a group home, HomeInstead, Uber Driver, etc., worked diligently to care for her family. She raised two amazing daughters, both college graduates.

Maria works tirelessly and always with a smile. When she got off from work at 10:00 pm, she would stop by my house to assure Cleveland was clean and dry. When she was assigned as his caregiver recently, she never complained or worried about her wellbeing, but rather the care her patients needed. Between assignments, she’s an Uber Driver and cleans homes. Currently, I don’t have a grant but I see her leaving home daily visiting her patients, always with her mask, gloves, hand sanitizer and other necessary supplies. Since this pandemic, Maria has not missed one day visiting her patients’ homes giving them the necessary care they need.

Recently, I saw Maria at the mailbox and questioned her about caregiving during these horrendous times. She only responded that she cares about her patients. Sadly, she commented that she and her cousin-workers risk their lives, each day caring for patients in group homes, nursing homes, hospitals, individuals’ homes, etc., but she stated they did not warrant the PPP because they were not considered First Responders, something she could not comprehend. She commented that some of her friends working as caregivers were given an additional $2.50 increase in pay during this pandemic but she has not received any increase. Additionally, she mentioned that she had a friend who works as a Clerk at a Circle K, was given the temporary PPP increase.

Maria commented that she had considered going to another healthcare agency but she feels obligated to care for patients depending on her and relying on seeing her.

She’s an amazing caregiver, one of two, whose names, my husband remembers. Additionally, my private caregivers are not nearly as capable and creative as Maria. She doesn’t make mistakes, she considers her errors as lessons learned. When she’s in our home, my husband’s care is her priority. He’s always clean, bedridden but no bed sores. His skin is in perfect condition due to caregivers like Maria who takes pride in their jobs, giving care with dignity, compassion, respect, patience, kindness and love.

I never gave a second thought to leaving my husband with Maria to run errands or simply take a much needed break. Caregivers speak Dementia and Alzheimers. They know their patients and are vital in this ALZ epidemic, especially during this pandemic.

Aside from the caregiver shown above, there are several others available to me when I need emergency help with my husband. It doesn’t matter the time of da or night, they find a way to help me keep him clean and dry heather I can pay them or not.

Sadly, some of these individuals are going into hospitals, nursing homes, residences and group homes with insufficient protective gear. I’ve given masks, gloves, sanitizers and shoe covers to soo many. I’ve been told that they’ve been given protective gowns which they have to reuse. These are basically yellow paperlike pieces that tear easily and should be discarded after they leave the patient. Hospital staffers discard them each time they leave and enter a patients room. Undeniably, these individuals are heroes and truly keep many patients out of hospitals with their care, working tirelessly multitasking their duties always with a smile.

Oftentimes, when they’ve completed their tasks, they will offer to help me since I do have a kneee injury which limits my mobility. These individuals are underpaid, unrecognized, oftentimes unappreciated heroes.