User Stories
Compassionate Alzheimer’s Care
Look Beneath the Surface
I first met my beloved father-in-law, Bernie, when I was in college. It was love at first sight. Over the years, I watched him teach us by example that a person should always walk his path with caring and compassion, treating others with sensitivity and consideration for what they might be going through. He would always say, “You have to look beneath the surface to truly understand another person’s behaviors.”
Several years ago, Alzheimer’s disease began to rob Bernie of his memory and his ability to take care of his own personal needs. As it progressed, Alzheimer’s disease ultimately transported Bernie into an alternate reality that we could not share. My husband and I knew that it was time for him to be treated as he had treated everyone throughout his life: with loving kindness and compassionate care.
Knowing Him Now
But that goal proved far more difficult than we anticipated. Bernie’s adoring wife had difficulty adapting to Bernie as the disease affected his personality and abilities. This made it difficult for her to tell home care aides what he needed or how to prevent his increasing anxiety and behavior issues. For my husband and me, work responsibilities made it impossible for us to be there to teach every aide how to help Bernie feel safe and calm when caring for his daily needs.
These misunderstandings escalated Bernie’s outbursts, and led to more sleepless nights than my husband and I could count. That’s when a wonderful friend told me about CareGiver360, a secure online service that lets us create a detailed, up-to-date profile of our Bernie, as well as a personalized care guide that other family members, respite workers and home care aides could view to better understand how to interact with and care for our father.
Shared Insights
Families who have cared for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease know that every day creates a whole new set of challenges, and our family’s journey is no different. But CareGiver360 allows us to easily share new approaches to Bernie’s care with everyone involved. And my husband and I take comfort in knowing that his mom can spend more time with her memories of Bernie as he was, while his caregivers are provided with the best care information for Bernie as he is.