Did you know that more than 10 million U.S. residents need in-home help on a daily basis? That’s a lot of wonderful seniors who would otherwise have to live in care facilities.
Day after day, many Americans sacrifice their own time to provide care for disabled or elderly relatives in the home. They truly stand apart as angels of mercy.
Caring for a homebound relative is not an easy road. When dreams and career plans must be put aside to care for a sick or disabled loved one, it’s often a bittersweet blessing. Yet, those who voluntarily take on these responsibilities often inspire others with their courage and joy in serving others. In those moments, onlookers catch a glimpse of the inner qualities of those special individuals.
Consider the story of Dana Brown Ritter, “happily married, wheelchair and all,” who cares for a husband who was paralyzed when he was just a teenager. She draws strength from a network of dozens of caregivers, and demonstrates her love for her husband through her blog posts.
Then there’s Karen and Adam Owen, who lost a young son to a rare mitochondrial disease, and went on to adopt two special-needs children, reasoning the couple already had experience in providing in-home care.
Theresa Richardson originally answered a help wanted ad to provide in-home care for Stanley Brown, a quadriplegic needing round-the-clock care. With her previous experience as a nurse in a similar setting, Richardson decided to accompany Brown on business trips in his capacity as president of the Gateway Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The couple fell in love and married.
The task of caring for a disabled loved one is far from easy. If you have a relative in the home who needs in-home care that you are unable to provide, check out these tips on what you should look for in a home-care provider from the AARP.