HomeInstead Caregiving

Caregivers are First Responders oftentimes unrecognized except by those of us who desperately need them in our lives. Maria Jose Dribben has never wavered in her care of my husband during this pandemic. Gratefully, since this pandemic, she has not missed one hour or day giving care to Cleveland in our home. She is on top of her job, prepared with gloves, masks and even making homemade sanitizer in my home out of an actual Aloe Vera plant gel and alcohol. She actually squeezed the gel from plants and prepared the sanitizer.

When she comes into our home with masks and gloves, everything in my husband’s living area is sanitized, including cleaning door knobs as she enters and exits our home.

Maria has not wavered any in her duties since this pandemic started. As she works, we are constantly keeping up with up dates listening to the various news channels trying to stay current and aware of what’s happening, stating she has to stay aware for herself and the care of her patients.

What’s more amazing is that Maria works several jobs, yet during this pandemic, she volunteers early hours at a local food bank preparing boxes for car loads of people needing food. Although, I’m sure I would have passed out from all of this, Maria comes into our home with a smile, saying she worked at the food bank during the early morning hours volunteering until it was time for her to go to work.

My husband, an ALZ patient, is bedridden and subject to having a low immune system. However, with Maria this is not even possible...her meals are healthy and wholesome. She keeps him hydrated and always clean; her patience is unparalleled. It’s not surprising that he actually knows her name...he calls her Jose. I’m with him 24/7 and I’m mom or girl. They have their jokes, singing together etc., additionally, oftentimes he tries to tell her about me bothering him. When she reprimands me, they both laugh.

Caregivers are in constant learning mode. I don’t believe or know that they are aware that it’s fine to not be “okay” some of the time.

Unfortunately, these individuals are the glue to keeping so many families together. They are behind the scenes in the medical field but work diligently from their hearts.

These individuals, in my opinion and the opinions of most, are desperately underpaid yet, they are caring, dependable, encouraging, valuable, respectful and compassionate about their patients and proud of their positions. These are some of the most gracious individuals I’ve met...they give their all. Fortunately, my husband has been blessed to receive care from caregivers with these immeasurable characteristics.

These are exceptional individuals and should be honored for all that they do... sadly, they are underrated and again, underpaid. Let’s bring insight and awareness to these awesome individuals and let them know how much they are needed and appreciated.

I believe most of them even speak Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Maria talks to my husband and he responds to her. They laugh and talk the entire while she’s at our home. He loves her food. It doesn’t matter what she prepares, he tells her that he loves her.

Unbelievably, when I’m feeding my husband, he continues talking to me and this could cause him to choke. Maria feeds him and tells him, “Mr. Cleveland, we can’t eat and talk.” Cleveland stops talking and continues to eat. When he starts getting agitated and sometimes crying, she asks him if he needs cleaning and he responds to her. There are other times when he lets her know that he’s hungry. She gives him a snack and he’s content.

Caregivers’ oftentimes loose themselves in their involvement with patients’ care. These individuals are truly underrated, over utilized, often living in the shadows of their agencies, seldom recognized or honored and definitively underpaid. What’s even more demeaning is their agencies will not allow them to receive any type of gift, reward or bonus from the families of their patients. It’s unfortunate that we cannot award them monetarily even on holidays. And, yes they work on holidays; however it’s doubtful that their pay is increased even by twenty-five cents. If a gift is put into a card for them, that gift has to be returned and reported to the agencies.

Many agencies send caregivers to patients with little to no experience. They are in a mode to learn as you go....sometimes they are offered minimal training through video online.

This is a profession that is in demand and as lifespans continue to increase, these individuals will be priceless. They prevent numerous hospital visits by preventing falls, dehydration, hunger...they take care of their patients.

Only another caregiver can relate to and understand that a simple mini trip to the store is like a vacation...these individuals know what it means to run on empty. They understand how much they are dependent upon by their patients to the extent they often run to the bathroom after holding “it” until they can’t wait another moment.

I’m sure caregivers suffer from anxiety, depression, frustration, loneliness and resentment, however they never display this...they smile through theses trying times.

Maria knows how to make my husband feel useful. He helps her when she’s turning him, she has repetitively told him to hold on to the bed rail as she turns him and he does that. What’s so important is that she explains to him everything she’s going to do with him, oftentimes asking his permission to even change or bathe him.

Maria has no problem with answering my husbands repititive questions. She easily steps in and become a part of his reality.

Does a caregiver ever reach a breaking point? What is the true cost and value of a caregiver?