Carolyn W.

I became a caregiver because of my Godmother. She was in home hospice care back in the year 2000. She was my first patient. I sat with her and read to her during her hospital visits. She later encouraged me to get into hospice because she thought that I am good at crossing people over. I come from a long line of nurses. My mother was an RN, and when she got sick I was the one who took care of her, I told Mom that she was NOT allowed to go through chemo and cancer by herself. I had to help her from start to finish no matter what. When Mom died at home, I was the one who called time of death. I really felt like a doctor at that moment. I could feel the stethoscope around my neck, and the white coat on my arms. (Despite the fact that I was at home in my house clothes.) I love working in senior care because it is just a natural fit for me. My Dad and I took care of his father (my grandfather) when he was in hospice. Thanks to him, one of my neighbors approached me and asked if I could take care of her 90 year old Aunt. I would go over to her house to hang out, give her meals, help her back and forth to the restroom, and watch her favorite shows: Jepardy! and any baseball game that was on TV. She danced (With the help of her walker) during her 100th birthday party! Sadly she passed at the young age of 104 the day after my Mom died. This year I took care of a Father and his daughter almost at the same time. He had Dementia and she had cancer. After he passed away, I just automatically took care of her. I knew that she would need night help and so her family and I took turns caring for her. That was just so easy for me all because of Mom and my neighbor. I learned so much from them that I finally decided that I should just get my Associates degree in nursing and hospice. I don't drive nor do I have a drivers license. However I arrive Super early to jobs because I severely distrust the Chicago Transit System.

I've been a caregiver for over 20 plus years. I've performed private duty as well as live in homecare serviced. Overnight Memory Care Wound care Alzheimer's Dementia Cerebral palsy including Hospice care, Medication reminder s, feeding G-tube with medications and liquid food Maintenance is just to name a few. Such duties also performed included completing laundry errands cooking house cleaning transfer from the bed to the wheelchair shower bed bath grooming. Companionship combined with hospice, and cancer respite care.