PARC Caregiver of the Month

Shirley Adams, This Month's Caregiver

"Fred wanted to stay at home so badly," says Shirley Adams, 71, of Grove City, Pennsylvania. "But after a while, I couldn't do the heavy lifting by myself. I was hurting my back trying to get him into the bathtub and helping him up and down the stairs. We were both miserable."

"Fred was a veteran, and one day I called the Veteran's Affairs office to see if they knew of someone who might help me out. They gave me the name of Vera, a visiting nurse. She turned out to be one of the nurses at the clinic where Fred was getting treatment. She also works in people's homes part-time. She was like a dream come true. Vera started coming over three times a week to help me bathe Fred and take him for walks."

"She taught me so many things. Like how to raise the foot of his bed without using pillows—we stacked up blankets under the sheet instead. And she had such a good attitude. Vera's visits made us both feel better."

"My words of wisdom? There's nothing wrong with getting help when you really need it!"

Quick Tip: Make today a "yes" day in your home. Encourage your loved one by saying positive things—like "It's a beautiful day. Let's go out now." Try not to use the word "don't" today. You are viewing the printer-friendly page version of PARC Caregiver of the Month

Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215
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Page Name: PARC Caregiver of the Month