| 1. Shock and Mobilization – Once the | | | | readmissions to the hospital. |
| immediate crisis is resolved, you enter, | | | | Most slow-aging adults today develop chronic |
| 2. The New Normal – They begin to think, | | | | illnesses. They are sent home quicker and sicker |
| "Ok, I can handle this." This reprieve may go on | | | | to you, the family caregiver, who has no |
| for months or years. Eventually there is a third | | | | professional training, no financial support and rarely |
| turn. | | | | any respite. |
| 3. Boomerang – Whoops, another crisis. This is | | | | 8 The Long Goodbye - This is a true gift and |
| when you realize you can't do it alone and call a | | | | Always Best Care can assist you. With one of our |
| family meeting. If you begin to think you are | | | | experienced, insured and bonded caregivers |
| responsible for keeping your loved one alive and | | | | relieving you of much of the work. You will now |
| safe, you will eventually find yourself at the next | | | | have time for end-of-life conversations and some |
| stage | | | | kind of closure. |
| 4. Playing God – This can become an | | | | |
| unhealthy co-dependant relationship. Eventually you | | | | The passage to caregiver may well be the most |
| will reach the next and most dangerous turn. | | | | memorable in your life. How you usher your mom |
| 5. I Can't Do This Anymore! – You MUST take | | | | or dad or spouse or sibling out of this world has |
| care of yourself. | | | | so much impact on how you think about yourself: |
| 6. Coming Back – You have now reached the | | | | Am I a good person? Did I do everything I could? |
| center of the labyrinth of care giving. Here, you | | | | Did I let my siblings do some of the heavy lifting? |
| must begin to appreciate all you have done and | | | | Did I hold on too long? Let go too soon? Or did I |
| begin to acknowledge that your loved one is not | | | | share precious moments of full presence right up |
| going to return to the independent person he or | | | | to the end? |
| she once was. You need to replenish your lifelines | | | | |
| – friends, music, work, nature. | | | | Let Always Best Care, The Leader in Non-Medical |
| 7. The In-Between Stage – is a momentous | | | | In-Home Care and FREE Assisted Living |
| turning point for those who care for the | | | | Placement, help you on this journey. We have |
| chronically ill. Your loved one cannot be cured in an | | | | care plans ranging from 2-hour sitter service to |
| acute-care hospital, but he or she is not ready to | | | | 24-hour live-in. Call us at 310-376-1417 and speak |
| die – and may live for years. But our | | | | with our care coordinator about a plan that fits |
| healthcare system has little to offer at this stage, | | | | your need. |
| except round trips to the emergency room and | | | | |