"Age only matters if you're wine, cheese or scotch" -Anonymous
The Circle of Life
Role Reversal
Coping with a parent's loss of capacity is heartbreaking, whether it's physically or mentally. When you try to respect your parent's wishes for independence but you can also see decline that could be dangerous - it is so hard to discern when the right time is to intervene. My services can help be a step in the right direction. It is my honor and pleasure to help you and I do not take the responsibility lightly.
Role reversal is emotionally painful. When you reach the point where the role of parent and child have reversed, it can often change the family dynamic into a complicated and difficult one. It is quite common for the child to receive push back, stubbornness, anger, resentfulness, defensiveness and not a lot of appreciation or thanks, especially at first. (Don't worry though, that will eventually change.)
The last thing a parent wants to be is a 'burden' to their child. And even though the child may not feel that it is a burden to help an aging parent, it can still become taxing. Taking over the financial or legalities of your aging parent is daunting and time consuming. Add that to an already tight schedule, juggling home and work responsibilities, and you have little time for much else. It is exhausting. Trust me, I know. I have been where you are now. Family caregivers need extra support, resources and tools to get through it with as much ease as possible. That is where I come in. Let me take the 'burden' from you and provide some much needed/added peace of mind.
Make your loved one feel special! If you have the means, my services are the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation for everything they have done for you. My prices are high, but my service is first class. Money can't buy happiness but it can buy peace of mind and that is what you'll be investing in. That and your loved one's well being. It's a win-win. Together, we can make their final chapters the best they can be.
About Me
"One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who only have an interest" - John Mill
Let me introduce myself: My name is Amy Epstein and I started this business because I was dissatisfied with the disconnect involved in senior care options that were available to me and my family when we needed them. Here is my story:
As a young child, I often felt a certain melancholy when I heard my friends talk about their grandparents. Both of my grandfathers passed away before I was born and one of my grandmothers passed away when I was ten. So my only living grandparent was my mother's mother, but unfortunately, she lived in a different city so we didn't get to see her often. I always felt that void though, the 'missing out' and longing for that special type of relationship. I often wonder if that was why I always gravitated towards the elderly in social situations or family gatherings?
Fast forward a few years to my late teens, early twenties. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, so my mother and aunt had to put her into a nursing home. As luck would have it, it was very close to where I was living at the time, so I got to see her a lot! I visited her regularly and enjoyed my time there. I fully understood that the woman I was visiting wasn't my grandmother anymore (as I knew her,) but another configuration of her that I could get to know. It didn't matter to me because our time together was intimate and meaningful. With Alzheimer's, many of the earlier memories are still accessible, so I heard numerous stories about her early days. Whether or not they were true had no significance to me, she just loved telling them.
After she passed away, I missed my time spent at the nursing home. I really missed the multi-generational benefits that were adding value to my life. That void was finally being filled. I thought to myself, even though my grandmother is gone, why couldn't I still go and visit? I had forged connections with many of the other residents during my months and years there, so why not? I loved hearing about all their different life experiences and was always learning something new and enlightening. So, I decided to keep going. The staff was baffled when I continued to come by, as they had never had that happen before. Certain protocols were put into place so I could continue my visits. Some people never got visitors, so I tried to focus on them the most. The vast amount of appreciation I felt from the residents let me know I was making a small, yet significant difference in their daily lives. And that felt really good.
My years at the nursing home planted a seed in me that had, unfortunately, laid dormant. Until now. I am finally pursuing my true calling.
In receiving assistance, your loved one should not have to forfeit dignity. I care immensely about that, above all. It fulfills me greatly to do work that matters. You really haven't made an impact until you've helped somebody. I always heard people say that if you are doing something you love, then it never feels like work and now I finally get that.
Resources
Geriatric Care Manager
I cannot recommend this service enough. Cheryl was a life saver! If you cannot afford one, check with your local Alzheimer's Association or religious institution. They might be able to provide services on a sliding scale.
Cheryl Hendrixson RN, BSN, CMC
(317) 409-3117
Elder Law Attorney
An absolute must. And I recommend sooner rather than later.....like before you need it. Anna and Scott are Awesome!
Severns & Howard
(317) 817-0300
Severns.com
Senior Relocation, Estate Sales
Contact Renee at Caring Traditions. Amazing is her superpower!
(317) 472-5752
Core Values
- Act with integrity
- Service matters
- Commitment to client's needs
- Accountability
- Honesty & transparency
- Responsibility
- Evolve and adapt
- Develop lasting relationships
- Support/win together
- Strong work ethic
- Respect the individual
- Fun
Concerned about Competency Issues?
Ask the following questions about your care recipient:
Do they have the ability to analyze or process information?
Do they understand their medical situation or needs?
Are they forgetting to complete routine daily tasks?
Is there repeated difficulity thinking of words in a conversation?
Do they recognize that they are using poor judgement?
Do they understand when their safety could be in jeopardy - driving, taking meds, eating?
Are they suffering from depression that could be imparing their ability to make decisions?
Do they have concentration challenges such as difficulty following conversations, reading or watching television?