- WE DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO FOR HER.
I'D RATHER BE HOME WITH PEOPLE THAT LOVE AND CARE ABOUT HER.
THEN I KNOW IF SHE'S GOING TO BE TREATED RIGHT.
- JUST BEING AT HOME, HE'S IN A FAMILIAR SURROUNDING.
I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR HIS MENTAL HEALTH.
- JUST KNOWING THAT HE'S HERE
AND THAT WE CAN STILL SPEND OUR LIFE TOGETHER,
I WOULD RATHER HAVE THIS CAREGIVER'S ROLE
THAN NOT HAVE HIM AT ALL.
- IT'S A BLESSING TO ME TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP
AND WORK FOR MY DAUGHTER.
- CAREGIVERS DO A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT CAN RANGE FROM ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
TO SOMETIMES MORE COMPLEX, COGNITIVE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES,
SO HELPING SOMEBODY MANAGE THEIR FINANCES,
MAKE APPOINTMENTS, MANAGE MEDICATION REGIMENS,
PREPARE FOOD, DO SHOPPING.
- HEY RICK, LOOK.
- OH, THAT'S AN AWARD CEREMONY WHERE WE GOT THE UNIT CITATION.
WITH CATHY, I TRY TO PUT MYSELF IN HER PLACE, TOO.
IF I WAS HER, YOU KNOW, WOULD I WANT HER TO DO THIS FOR ME?
DO I NEED HER TO DO THIS FOR ME?
WOULD I WANT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INDEPENDENT?
AND WE GET THE APPOINTMENTS, WE MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS,
WE WALK HER FROM THE HOUSE OUT TO THE TRUCK,
WE GET IN, WE GET TO THE HOSPITAL,
AND WE GO TO HER APPOINTMENT.
- WHEN YOU VISIT HER, WHAT PROGRESS YOU'RE HAVING,
WHAT PROGRESS SHE'S HAVING--
WE HAVE TO REPORT THAT TO STAY LEGALLY HER GUARDIAN.
AS FAR AS CONSERVATORSHIP,
YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL BANK STATEMENTS.
ALL ACCOUNTS GOT TO BE BALANCED. THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS.
THIS IS A TYPICAL DAY IN MY LIFE:
TRYING TO GET STUFF SITUATED AROUND FOR HIM,
ESPECIALLY WITH PHARMACY.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR ME IS
TO KNOW WHEN TO PULL BACK.
SOMETIMES BRIAN NEEDS HELP
AND SOMETIMES BRIAN DOESN'T NEED HELP,
AND JUST FIGURING OUT WHERE THAT EVEN KEEL IS,
AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF BRIAN.
SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH ME.
YOU'VE GOT--SUNGLASSES ARE IN HERE.
- HEY, GOOD MORNING, MR. EDDIE.
- GOOD MORNING. - HOW ARE YOU?
- PRETTY GOOD. HOW YOU DOING? - I'M ALL RIGHT.
HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT?
- IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE HIS IMMOBILITY,
THE VA INSTALLED A HORCHER LIFT.
WE PUT HIM IN A SLING,
ATTACH IT TO THE HANGER, AND USE A REMOTE CONTROL
TO GET HIM FROM BED TO HIS WHEELCHAIR,
FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR
TO THE TOILET, TO THE SHOWER.
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A BREAK FOR A CAREGIVER
IS TO SEND A HOMEMAKER/HOME HEALTH AIDE INTO THE HOME,
AND WE PROVIDE 10 HOURS A WEEK
OF HOMEMAKER/HOME HEALTH AIDE SERVICES
FOR THIS VETERAN AND THE CAREGIVER.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO COME INTO THE HOME AND HELP THIS VETERAN
WITH HIS BATH AND HELP DO HIS LAUNDRY
AND CHANGE THE BED LINENS AND SO FORTH,
WHICH REALLY CAN TAKE A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN OFF
OF THE FAMILY CAREGIVER.
WE SEND OUR HOME-BASED PRIMARY CARE TEAM INTO THE HOME,
SO THE VETERAN HAS HOME VISITS BY PHYSICIAN, SOCIAL WORKER,
NURSES, PHYSICAL THERAPIST.
- WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THESE PROGRAMS.
THERE'S A PROGRAM FOR A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR,
WHICH THEY GAVE US.
IT'S AN EXPENSIVE WHEELCHAIR.
IT'S ONE THAT SHE CAN ACTUALLY HIT A BUTTON
AND SHE CAN STAND UP IN IT AND DRIVE IT AND MOVE AROUND
AND REACH THINGS IN THE HOUSE IF SHE CHOOSES TO DO IT.
THE PROGRAM GAVE US A SMALLER, LIGHTER-WEIGHT WHEELCHAIR
THAT WE CAN USE WHEN WE TRAVEL.
I RIDE MY HARLEY.
WITH THE LIGHTER-WEIGHT FOLDING WHEELCHAIR NOW,
I CAN FOLD IT DOWN AND BUNGEE IT TO THE BACK OF THE BIKE,
AND WE TAKE OFF ON THE MOTORCYCLE AND WE GO RIDE.
YOU GIVE YOUR TIME TO THEM,
BUT YOU KIND OF LOSE YOURSELF OVER A PERIOD OF TIME,
AND I SAW THAT OVER A YEAR OR SO.
I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT MYSELF.
- YOU FORGET SOMETIMES
TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
AND THAT'S A NO-NO.
- IT TAKES SOME ADJUSTING, BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GOT TO DO
WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART TO DO, YOU WILL.
YOU'LL WORK IT OUT.
- WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THEM TO BE HUMAN AGAIN.
- WE ARE LOOKING AT THE GLASS MAYBE HALF FULL
INSTEAD OF HALF EMPTY.
- JUST KNOWING THAT HE'S HERE
AND THAT WE CAN STILL SPEND OUR LIFE TOGETHER
AND STILL SHARE MEMORIES TOGETHER
AND GROW OLD TOGETHER--
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
- WE DEAL WITH IT.