How did you become the caregiver for your loved one?
My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s . She needed a night CG to keep her from wandering. I had a 3 month old baby at the time my family asked me if I could spend the night at her care facility and watch her. Became a CNA a year later!
gina acosta
Has your relationship changed with the loved one that you are caring for? If so how?
I took care of my grandmother at night (7pm-7am) for almost 3 years before she passed away. I was given the gift of spending a lot of time with her, and share memories. It felt good knowing I was caring for her and keeping her safe.
What is the hardest thing about being a caregiver and the most rewarding thing?
Hardest thing is seeing the decline over time, watching the person you love and care about slowly become a shell of who they were. The most rewarding thing is knowing that your help is truly making life better for them, physically or emotionally.
What advice would you give to other caregivers?
To always treat them the way you’d want your family members treated. To be kind, patient, caring, helpful, gentle, reassuring, and as much as possible, calm when interacting with them.
In ten words or less, what has caregiving taught you?
That caregiving is a labor of love, it’s not just a job!
Describe a situation where being a Fearless Caregiver helped you succeed?
There have been multiple times in my regular life that I’ve been at an event, or the grocery store, and I see a situation evolving with a older or disabled person about to happen, and without thought I find myself offering assistance to help out .
Fill Out Your Own Fearless Caregiver Profile
Fearless Caregiver Profile: Join us as we celebrate Fearless Caregivers sharing personal stories as we care for our loved ones. Read this week’s Fearless Caregiver Profile and feel free to add your profile as well, so we can learn from and share with our fellow caregivers.