Adult Care Services has been helping families and caregivers for 40 years.
We all know moms do so much. They care for us as babies, they help us to take our first steps and speak our first words, they teach us how to count and recite our ABCs, they encourage us to do the laundry and wash the dishes, they support us when times are tough and they rejoice in our achievements and happiness!
As we grow up, mom becomes a friend and confidant. We rely on her to be there always, no matter what. The relationship begins to shift to be more of a friendship and we think how lucky we are to have grown up with our best friend being right here by our side.
And then as mom ages, there is another shift, it’s subtle at first and you may not even realize it’s occurring. The roles begin to reverse. You are making sure mom is happy and comfortable. You begin to stop by or call to check on her and ask how her day was. You might start to take her to the grocery store or out to dinner so you know she has eaten and has the food she needs. If mom becomes ill, you take her to the doctor, you care for her just like she did for you once upon a time.
How do you, as a caregiver, handle all of these impactful life changes? Again, it can be subtle. You may not even realize you are in the throughs of caring for another adult until one day, you are exhausted. At this point whatever you feel is OK! Maybe you are angry, “I never signed up for this!” or sad and resentful, “why is all of this my responsibility?” Again, it’s OK to have all of these emotions and you must allow yourself time to process these feelings.
The next step is to find a support system for both you and mom. For you, this can mean someone to get advice from and even someone to help you care for your mom. There are so many great services in the Quad Cities area that are ready to help you. All you have to do is go online, pick up the phone and ask for help.
A great place to start is:
- Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG). This is an agency that will help you find the services you and your mom need such as Adult Day programming, Meals on Wheels, and Caregiver Support Groups. NACOG may even be able to help you to pay for these supports. 1-928-774-1895.
- Spotlight Senior Services and Living Options. Spotlight has both a magazine and a website to assist in finding agencies that may be of service to you and your mom. www.spotlightseniorservices.com.
- Alzheimer’s Association. The chapter that services the Quad Cities Area is the Desert Southwest Chapter and you can find them online or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. They have support groups and can assist with helping you find the services you need for mom.
Adult Care Services has been helping families and caregivers for 40 years. The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center and the Margaret T. Morris Assisted Living Center are both great places to find the much-needed support and respite that you need. Mom can relax, make friends and have fun! You can be assured she is getting the nurturing and medical monitoring that she requires.
Always remember that you cannot take good care of mom if you are not taking care of yourself. Finding your resiliency will help you to get through these big life changes. Maybe you have a friend or neighbor you can reach out to. Having someone to talk to can make all the difference in the world. Eating a well-balanced and healthy diet is also crucial, especially for caregivers. After all, you can’t take care of mom if you are not taking care of yourself! Reach out today and get the help you need. You are not alone.
Happy Mother’s Day! QCBN
By Candace Lea
Candace Lea, MBA, is the community liaison and marketing person for Adult Care Services. She has worked in the human service and healthcare field for more than 30 years. She also is a local yoga teacher. To learn more about these programs, visit adultcareservices.org.
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