As part of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, BrightStar Care is sharing stories, with permission, that showcase real, personal stories of connections between clients, family care partners, and BrightStar Care caregivers. Follow along on our blog and Facebook for more stories, information about Alzheimer’s disease, and ideas to help care for a loved one with dementia. After her husband Leonard was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Melba decided to try in-home care. She thought she was getting someone to help Len shower. She got much more. “In comes this cheery little thing,” says Melba, referring to Beata, the BrightStar Care caregiver who eventually came on board. “She was all ‘good morning!’ and ‘how are you all today?’ She was so nice to him and to me.” Indeed, though she was hired to help Len, Beata has had a major impact on both husband and wife, who have been together for 63 years. She attends to Len’s physical needs, from showering to exercise, and connects with him on an emotional level, too. As a result, he’s thriving, and Melba has more time to attend to all the work of maintaining the household.
For instance, when he was younger, Len was quite the card shark. Today, his dementia limits him to playing the solitaire game, Kings in the Corner. Rather than leave him to do this alone, Beata plays side by side with Len; she actually learned the rules of the game from him. Indeed, Beata never lets Len just sit and watch TV. She’ll pull out old photo albums and ask him about the old days. Through these conversations, she keeps his mind active and has learned about his wedding, his career as an electrical engineer, his time in the Navy, and the Wisconsin lake house he used to love visiting with Melba.
Above and Beyond
As for showers, the job Beata was first hired to do, she excels there. “After his shower, she cleans the shower stall, washes the towels, dries them, and puts them away,” says Melba. She’s also taught Melba how to use a belt to help lift Len out of his wheelchair should she ever need to help him shower. Beata’s efforts allow Melba to come and go more easily, knowing that her husband is in good hands. “I used to have to call in a neighbor or a friend to come sit with him so I could do all my errands,” she says. “Now I can have a day out.”Remembering Old Times
Len’s dementia manifests in his struggles to remember words or where he’s going. According to Beata, this can depress him, so she takes every effort to engage him in conversation and activities.For instance, when he was younger, Len was quite the card shark. Today, his dementia limits him to playing the solitaire game, Kings in the Corner. Rather than leave him to do this alone, Beata plays side by side with Len; she actually learned the rules of the game from him. Indeed, Beata never lets Len just sit and watch TV. She’ll pull out old photo albums and ask him about the old days. Through these conversations, she keeps his mind active and has learned about his wedding, his career as an electrical engineer, his time in the Navy, and the Wisconsin lake house he used to love visiting with Melba.