This post is a
sponsored post but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
My Journey as a Caregiver began six years ago and it has been tough at times.
Six years ago
my husband's parents moved to be closer to the grandchildren but I think it was
more than that. My mother-in-law had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's
several years before and my father-in-law did a great job of hiding how bad it
was. I guess he did not want any of us kids to worry or he just was so busy
caring for his wife that he did not realize that he needed help. I think his
decision to move to Albuquerque was a tough one but I also think it was a cry
out for help. My father-in-law had done a great job of making us think that
everything was all right with mom but once they arrived we saw things
differently. We had last seen mom a year ago at Christmas and her disease had
progressed more than we knew and it was taking a toll on my husband's dad.
It is amazing how
others can see things that you can not
The one thing
that my husband and I noticed right away as we help them settle into their new
place was neither of them was taking care of their personal grooming. Mom no
longer wanted to bathe and we think she was afraid of the water, scary
what Alzheimer's can do. We also think that dad had not brushed her teeth
in quite some time. My husband said that his dad never did any of the
child caretaking tasks so his dad did not know how to be a caregiver. I
think taking care of his wife was an overwhelming responsibility for him. Dad's
personal care also was not happening as he no longer had a wife to remind him
and he looked tired. My husband and I noticed right away that both mom and
dad were having incontinence issues that needed to be addressed. It was then
that I had to put my embarrassment aside as we went out for dinner with mom and
dad. It was about loving them and not caring about what others thought. My
husband had the first tough job of telling his dad about them needing to
wear disposable incontinence products. I had the job of buying the disposable products and I had no
clue. I quickly learned about the embarrassment that came with buying disposable
incontinence products. I realized that I had to not be embarrassed, as I knew
dad needed this help.
How do you help
someone with bladder leakage?
It was not easy for dad to realize that he had incontinence problems. He did make sure that mom wore the disposable ladies briefs as she no longer could control her bladder. So I purchased some Depend men's guards and left them at his apartment. Once dad realized that the disposable guards were not visible, he started wearing them. Mom's disease progressed even more and I became a part-time caregiver to mom. I babysat her so my husband could take dad to an Alzheimer's support group for a much-needed break. I took mom for long walks to the grocery store, a place that made her so happy as she loved meeting new people. Mom did not know who I was but was happy to see me. Mom's care became more than dad could handle so he placed her in a nursing home. It was tough seeing her fade from the Alzheimer’s and not remember simple things like how old her grandchildren were. My son who was 5 at the time had to tell grandma his age every time we visited her. Mom died nine months from the time they moved to Albuquerque from an infection in her mouth.
Dads health took a
turn for the worse four years later
Dad went on with life without the one he loved. He took up dancing and was a hit with the ladies at the senior center. I think every week he had a new girlfriend. Dad still had problems taking care of his personal care and needed reminders to bathe and wear leakage control products. Four years after mom died, dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and his health started to decline. He was falling out of bed on a weekly basis and then took a fall when he was outside that landed him in the hospital. We then realized that dad needed full-time care. He also needed incontinence briefs as he was wetting the bed. His mind was declining and he needed help with daily tasks. He needed a walker to get around. Shopping online was a task that he could no longer handle. It was hard when my husband had to take away his dad's car keys. That meant I had to drive my father-in-law to doctor appointments and trips to the store. I made sure that I had plenty of time when I took him places as I had to be patient with his slow walking. Since dad lived 45 minutes away, I could not visit him as often as needed and his care was more than I could handle. So my husband helped his dad with the tough decision of moving into an assistant living facility.
Dad still needs
our help with many things from doctor appointments to stock up on incontinence
supplies. Sure the place that he lives at will provide the disposable products
but the prices are not affordable. Dad also needs to know that we care so we
visit often to visit to take him out for dinner and help with the never-ending
computer problems. Since my husband has a full-time job, I handle the doctor
visits and shopping. Sam's Club Caregiver program makes it easy to get all the products dad needs. I love that
I can buy in bulk quantity so dad does not run out of his disposable briefs. I
make sure to stock-up and I am glad that Sam's Club sells products for
caregivers in quantities that we need at prices that are affordable. I can
always find products like Depend, Poise, Ensure and Glucerna at my local
Sam's Club. The products are all located in the same area of the store so I can
find what I am looking for without having to wander around the store. If I do
need help, the pharmacist at Sam's Club is always ready to answer any questions
that I have. I am glad that Sam's Club is right down the street from dad's new
place so I grab what I need before I visit him although dad likes it when I
take him shopping as he loves the ice cream cone when we are done shopping.
This is a sponsored
post by Sam’s Club but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
