Talking to a friend - 2024 11 08
I was talking to a friend who is in the middle of her family caregiving work. We were talking about how little is known about the work of running a long-term care facility from our homes so that our family members can live with their families. My friend is operating a long-term care bed in her home for her partner. He suffered a stroke in 2017 that resulted in acquired brain injury. He cannot fend for himself. She tried leaving him in a care facility after his rehabilitation program ended because it was clear he was going to need support. It was heartbreaking for her to hear him on the phone asking, "Why can't I come home?", "When am I coming home?". She brought him home and has been taking care of him ever since. Her caregiving story is different from mine. Her partner is not physically frail. He is impaired cognitively, but still able to manage some part of his activities of daily living. The better care my friend takes of him, the longer he is going to live...