Canes: Aging and Vanity
Posted: August 29, 2014 Filed under: Miscellaneous | Tags: canes, freedom, independence, perceptions, safety, semantics, vanity, walkers, wheelchairs 3 Comments
THIS…..
NOT THIS
Originally posted on Intentional Caregiver: http://www.intentionalcaregiver.com
Confessions of a New Caregiver
August 13, 2014 by Andrea Frayser: Doctor of Naturopathy, student of Herbal Pharmacology and Holistic Nutrition and an award winning authority on plant based personal care and wellness. She is the author of “The Ultimate Juice Fasting Detox Plan”, “The Pennywize Vegetarian: The “How-to” Guide For Better Eating on a Budget”, and Deliciously Satisfying Vegetarian Recipes”. Andrea lives in Hagerstown, MD with her husband and three children where she enjoys the arts, nature, shopping and cooking for her friends and family.
I have to make a confession. This has been the hardest post for me to write. I have sat down, time and again to put the words together and they just wouldn’t come. It has taken me weeks of prayer, of introspection and a swift kick in the butt to finally get this done. I guess the kick dislodged the words, so here we go…
I use a cane. (Even typing that statement pulled at my heart.) Please understand that I have been fighting this inevitability for several years. I would rather rely on my husband, children and friends to prop me up, and yes, sometimes pick me up, as long as I did not have to use a cane.
I understand the benefits of using the device in my mind, and over the years, I have had many conversations with friends and clients convincing them to use their canes. But when it came down to me getting one- oh boy- all of that good sense just went to the wayside.
To me, the cane represented weakness, old age, and an inability to care for my family. Therefore when necessity prevailed and the need for the cane became apparent, it felt like accepting this device would also mean that I had to accept being weak, losing my vitality and not being able to do the thing I love the most- caring for my family. I really felt that using the cane would change people’s view of me from a fortress of strength and stability to a pile of dust, and I was not ready to accept that reality shift.
I needed some serious reinforcements to support me in this decision. My husband, who also happens to be my best friend, went with me to pick it out. After trying out several models I found one that suited me. It was young looking, sparkly and had a comfort grip handle. I used it to get to the car, where I proceeded to break down and cry. Partially because it was so much easier for me to get from the sidewalk to the car and I had less pain. Admitting that seemed like I was choosing my comfort over my family.
We went to Sam’s Club to pick up a few things, and my husband asked me if I wanted to “take ‘er for a spin” inside Sam’s. I couldn’t do it. So he graciously went in, while I stayed in the car and watched the people go by (yes, and to cry some more). To get my mind off of my “problem” I went on Facebook to see what was going on in other people’s lives. As I was looking down at my phone, a hand appeared through the window and a giant box of my favorite chocolates appeared, quickly followed by a kiss on the cheek. He went back into the store and shopped, leaving me time to dry my tears and think.
In my heart, I went back to holding my children’s hands when they were little to keep them safe. I realized that now that they are adults, we were still holding hands but they were doing it to keep ME safe. I also realized that my stubbornness in using the cane was keeping me dependent upon them and others, that in reality, they had slowly become my guardians and caregivers and that I was not really caring for their emotional health with my choice. By the time my husband had returned I had decided that I was going to try to make peace with this.
When we got home I decided to use my cane to walk to the door. My son saw me walking towards the house, he ran and opened the door, and said “Hey Mom, looking good!” (I cannot describe how good that felt.) When my daughters came to visit, they both ribbed me horribly (in my family that is a sign of acceptance and love), and I could sense the feeling of relief that came to them seeing me walk steadier (the jokes about no longer looking like a drunken sailor were also an indicator).
That night, when we sat down to read the bible and pray together, I asked them how they felt about my new accessory. They all agreed that they loved it because, it gave me freedom, and they would worry less about me because I had my “personal assistant” and that I could go back to being Mom again. Amazing how our own visions of ourselves can be so far off from what others really perceive.
I named my cane Whizzy- for two reasons. First it is because I can now “whiz” around from one place to another, without waiting for someone to steady me, and second as a reminder that “Wisdom is proved righteous by its works.” (Matthew 11:19) Every time I pick Whizzy up, I am reminded that it was the wisest choice, and that by using her, I am providing proof of Godly wisdom to myself and others- especially my children.
The response and support have been overwhelmingly positive. There are some who look at me with that look of: “why her?” The real question is: ”Why not me?” I deserve to be able to feel safe and secure, to reduce my physical pain, to not have to rely on people to keep me on my feet, (literally) and to have to dignity of being able to overcome my negative thinking and experience the emotional, physical and psychological freedom that comes with my lovely red cane- Whizzy.
My Comments:
My MIL disliked all forms of devices that she associated with getting older: canes, walkers, wheelchairs and hearing aids (she could “hide” the incontinence products). When she had to graduate from a cane to a walker, she chose the jazzy electric blue rolling model. When it became unsafe for her to go to the senior center, and we brought up the subject of a wheelchair, she became upset saying, “Wouldn’t you be upset if someone said you needed a wheelchair?” When I clarified that the model she would be using was a “transport chair” she said, “I would not have been upset if you had called it a transport chair!” Her minister said, “Well, it is a chair and it does have wheels.” So we started calling it a “transport chair,” per her preference. She gained a measure of independence despite her vanity.
Barbara Matthews
When Parent-Child Lines become Fuzzy
Posted: August 17, 2014 Filed under: Assuming Caregiving Responsibilities, Caregiving Roles and Responsibilities, Emotional and Physical Challenges, Impact on Family Relationships | Tags: autonomy, caregiving-book, decisions, driving, eldercare, financial-management, independence, rebellious, role-reversal, safety, threat 1 CommentClick on the Patriot-News link below to see a Doonesbury cartoon about role reversals:
– The Patriot-News.
A response to an AgingCare.com article:
http://www.agingcare.com Home>>Caregiver Support>>Family & Relationships>>Articles>>Switching Roles: Coping with Your Rebellious Aging Parent.
When I was an Assessor for the Area Agency on Aging I often met with senior women and their daughters. When I directed a question to the senior, it was not uncommon to hear the response, “Ask my mother here,” while indicating her daughter. Clearly they were referring to the issue of “role reversal,” which can be petty doggone tricky to navigate.
In the AgingCare.com article, Switching Roles: Coping with Your Rebellious Aging Parent,
Now who’s rebellious?
Carolyn Rosenblatt states: “You can’t just let a parent with signs of dementia or other significant memory problems go on as if nothing were wrong, even if she gets upset with you. At some point, the adult child who loves a parent must step in. You may end up setting limits, making new rules, or taking over certain decisions. This is not easy for most people. We are so accustomed to our parent making her own decisions, that to dare to tell her what to do is very uncomfortable.”
Carolyn is correct that reversing roles with parents is very difficult. But it is not always clear cut as to when to do so. When it is determined that you must step in, and the parent-child line becomes fuzzy, it is always important demonstrate respect for everyone’s roles.
An initial question to consider is: What takes precedence? Autonomy or safety? If the senior’s values and wishes are not respected and taken into consideration, you are bound to run into resistance and conflict. After all, who doesn’t want to remain in the driver’s seat of life?
It is imperative to respect your loved one’s dignity—it is, after all, empowering to retain the ability to make choices and decisions. Show respect for your care receivers’ autonomy by seeking opinions and preferences throughout the care-planning process. Promoting as much independence as possible is key. Furthermore, caregiving responsibilities generally escalate as needs multiply over time. The less able our loved ones become, the greater their sense of independence lost. And as needs escalate, so does conflict.
Two huge problem areas that Carolyn Rosenblatt mentions are driving and financial management. These are both referred to in “What to Do about Mama?” For example:
- When our parents lose their ability to drive they require assistance with transportation, shopping, and running errands. And of course, since driving is synonymous with independence for most seniors, this issue may cause particularly intense conflict. As one son recalled: “When my father insisted that my grandfather stop driving, Grandpa, a generally sweet and mild-mannered gentleman, began to call Dad on the phone to curse him out soundly. I was glad that I never had to confront this issue with my own father!”
- “As my dad began having problems managing the finances, it was difficult to ease him away from the task so I could handle the accounts. Eventually, we worked it out so he would ‘check’ everything I did, which kept him in the loop, but gave me full responsibility for handling bills.”
In my own personal caregiving situation, my husband and I felt that living in the safety of our home would allow his mother to be more independent and active for a longer period of time. We felt that although the first two years of our caregiving arrangement were really quite good, there was always an undercurrent that somehow my mother-in-law perceived me (her primary caregiver) as a threat to her autonomy.
I tried very hard to respect her independence. I tried to empower her by presenting options and respecting her choices. But if she perceived me “directing” in any way she felt her independence was threatened and I sensed her resentment. Ultimately, I felt that most of the escalating friction could be attributed to my role as an in-law caregiver. Switching roles, or even the perception of switching roles, is indeed difficult.
Should you sit in on doctor appointments?
Posted: June 6, 2014 Filed under: Caregiving Roles and Responsibilities, Impact on Family Relationships | Tags: appointments, caregiving-book, doctor-opinions, errors, independence, medication-setup, misunderstanding, privacy 1 Commenthttp://www.pennlive.com/living/index.ssf/2014/06/post_18.html
In her PennLive article above: Not asking doctors questions can lead to medical errors–Linda Rhodes shares a statistic that eight of ten doctors find it helpful when a patient brings someone along to appointments. They welcome a second set of ears, find it reassuring when someone is taking notes, and are glad someone is showing up and asking questions. Doctors appreciate questions because an informed patient is more likely to follow orders correctly. Misunderstanding directions can lead to medical errors—something that a simple question could have avoided.
Although I completely agree with Rhodes’ article, I would like to add, however, that caregivers should also be prepared for conflict. In my experience as a caregiver, the issues of maintaining privacy and independence were exacerbated by the fact that I was a daughter-in-law.
When I went to doctors’ appointments with my mother-in-law, the medical personnel often directed their comments and questions to me. I would politely redirect them to speak directly to her. However, any involvement with medical issues, no matter how important, created discord in our relationship, particularly when I began to set up her medications, which occurred as follows:
After a hospitalization, when my mother-in-law was being released, I asked the doctor what his opinion was of my setting up her medications. My mother-in-law said, “You’re walking on thin ice!” After the doctor left the room, she said angrily to my husband: “You never know what is coming out of her mouth!”
That evening, after getting settled in at home, my husband’s sister called and talked to her mother about my setting up the medications. After the phone call was over, Mom came out, rolling her walker with a vengeance, and said, “Are you happy now?”
In truth, I was never happy when my mother-in-law “lost” the ability to perform a task independently. But in the case of medications, safety was the priority.
Barbara Matthews
Autonomy
Posted: March 12, 2014 Filed under: Assuming Caregiving Responsibilities | Tags: autonomy, caregiving-book, dignity, guilt, independence, relevance, safety 1 CommentAs Laura said in her blog, “The Selfish Caregiver:”
“I’ve often pondered if I regret not telling her to shove it and just moving back and forcing her to deal with it. But as much as I believe in caring for your loved ones when they need you, I also believe that a person doesn’t give up their autonomy just because they get sick. And I’m pretty sure that me, moving back into her house and giving up the stuff she knew I loved, wouldn’t have been selfless–it would have been me, assuaging my own guilt and pissing her off by treating this incredibly stubborn, independent woman like a child. So I respected her wishes, even though it killed me.”
Autonomy is a really important value to consider in making caregiving decisions. It was a big factor in my own caregiving experience—one that I revisit several times in “What to Do about Mama?”
• Talk about what is most important to all of you—autonomy or safety. (WTDAM p.54)
• We would like to emphasize again, however, how important it is to respect care receivers’ autonomy by seeking their opinions and preferences throughout the care-planning process. Promoting the independence of care receivers is key to helping them maintain their dignity. (WTDAM p.189)
• Still, we did a lot of things wrong: We did not include Mom in our initial discussions. Ultimately the decision was hers, but she was strongly pressured. We did not discuss our values or explore other options to moving north. What took precedence? Autonomy or safety? (WTDAM p.32)
• I had the expectation that when you moved here that our relationship, which I always considered to be good, would become even closer and warmer. I felt that living in the safety of our home would allow you to be more independent and active for a longer period of time. I think our first two years were really quite good, but there was always an undercurrent that somehow you perceived me as a threat to your autonomy. (WTDAM p.27)
• Caregiver Experience: Respect for care receiver autonomy. See Nathan’s Story (WTDAM p.190)And by the way, I really enjoy Laura’s blog. She is a young woman wise beyond her years, having lived through the loss of both of her parents (as well as a good friend) in a short period of time. Also, she doesn’t mince words.
I think that young adults often feel that caregiving doesn’t apply to them. Two of my three children have reacted to my book noting that has a negative tone, but that it is probably helpful “those who need it.” My response? As I stated in my March 9th blog “Long-Distance Caregiving:”
“As much as I support being ‘positive,’ the truth is, who would ever choose to lose their health and abilities on the end-of-life path that we will all travel? And what caregiver would choose this debilitating journey for their loved one? It is never easy.”
Unfortunately, that lesson is now hitting home. My daughter-in-law’s mother had a recent and sudden diagnosis of stage four colon and liver cancer with a very poor prognosis. Caregiving has now become more relevant.
Barbara Matthews
So, I named this blog “The Selfish Caregiver.” Now, I am finally going to explain why.
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What to Do about Mama? 