I hope that the people who attend the Caregiver Learning Circles not only receive valuable information but also support, compassion and encouragement for the often discouraging yet rewarding caregiving journey.
Since she is the oldest of eight and the mother of six children, Kathy has been a caregiver most of her life. When Kathy's mother developed Alzheimer's, she relied on Kathy for care and decision making. At that same time, Kathy's son was in a serious car accident in which he became disabled and needed constant care. Kathy took a leave of absence from teaching to help her son on the road to partial recovery. In addition, Kathy and her husband managed care for Kathy's mother-in-law until she went to a skilled nursing facility and eventually passed away at the age of 93. Currently, Kathy cares for her 90-year-old aunt one to two days per week. She is also helping her husband recover from a cerebellar stroke.