Jerry was taking care of his wife of more than 50 years. When she had her stroke over a year ago, she was in her late 70s and Jerry had just crossed the threshold of 80. They never considered companion care at home services, mostly because Jerry was adamant that this was his responsibility, something he took seriously. He didn’t want to let his wife down, disappoint her, or show signs of weakness, especially in her state of physical challenge.
Until that time, both Jerry and Sally had been in relatively good health. There were no warning signs, no indicators that this was going to happen, and they were enjoying their golden years of life. They were doting on grandchildren, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and doing the things they had always wanted to do when they were working hard in their younger years.
The stroke was considered relatively serious and left Sally without the ability to speak and walk around on her own. In the year since the stroke and countless hours of physical therapy, doctor visits, appointments, and so much more, Jerry had been the primary support system for her when they returned home.
One day, Jerry lost his balance.
Trying to get his wife out of bed one morning to go to the bathroom, Jerry was performing the same routine he had done hundreds of times in the past year. He had positioned himself properly by the bed, got his balance set, and began helping her transition from the bed to a wheelchair, but he slipped. He fell and took her with him.
He suffered a sprained wrist, but Sally broke her hip. For the longest time, Jerry couldn’t figure out what went wrong, but now things were even tougher. Their adult children were admonishing them to move their mother to a facility, but both Jerry and Sally were determined to remain home as long as they could, which meant the rest of their lives. That’s when the topic of companion care at home came up again.
Jerry had to take an honest assessment of his physical abilities.
He had taken on the role of a family caregiver out of a sense of duty and responsibility. When they married, he was serious about being there for her ‘in sickness and in health.’ He had thought that any deviation from that would be breaking his vow.
It took a long time for his children to convince him that relying on professional companion care at home was not him turning his back on his wife but raising the level of care she could receive.
When he had fallen with her, the guilt clung to him like barnacles on a ship. He couldn’t shake the feeling as though he not only let her down but made things worse for her. When she finally returned home from the hospital again, he had agreed to have home care supporting both of them, as he needed some help while he healed.
Even after he was all healed and back to full strength, he knew the right thing was to have this professional home care provider supporting his wife, with his assistance along the way.
In the months that followed, things weren’t necessarily easier for them because of their age and Sally’s health challenges, but Jerry wouldn’t trade that support for anything in the world; it made all the difference to his wife.
Jerry had dismissed even the notion of companion care at home because of bravado, pride, or even ignorance. What he discovered was that professional home care doesn’t mean you don’t love that individual; in fact, it often means the opposite.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home Services in Tamarac FL, please get in touch with the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call 954-962-0926
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Florida including Palm Beach, Miami Dade, and Broward County.
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