When Ginny’s mother is in “crisis mode”, everything is put on hold until things return to normal, including Ginny’s hobbies.
Transcript
I love to go for my walks. I try to get a buddy to go for my walk. My sister-in-law is actually my buddy, my walking partner. We go for a walk every morning quite early because she’s still working. So I’ll get up and I’ll go for a walk with her. Then that will start my day. We keep each other motivated. In the winter, last winter, we started cross-country skiing, my sister-in-law and I. We really loved that, but the only reason I could do that was because my mother was already in the interim care centre and I knew that she was being taken care of. So once my mother was taken care of, I could start to do a few more of those things.
This winter I’m hoping to get out and do more cross-country skiing and continue with my walking. I felt like I just started really enjoying the cross-country skiing and getting—I wouldn’t say good at it—but starting to feel that I could stand on my skis and be able to get from point A to point B. Then summer came; the snow stopped and we started just walking again. […]
You never know when the next crisis is going to come. That’s the problem. Then everything stops and then life is sort of on hold for a little while until things get back to normal. That happens when you have something like recurring TIA’s or a fall. Those crises happen more and more. But I am trying. I have a piano at home that I started to play a little bit more, but again, when you’re in crisis mode I find that it stops as well.
And lunches with my friends. I know I can always call them and we can go out. They’re texting me or e-mailing me. I have a group—we call it our book club, our circle of friends—and we get together once a month. I’ve been there a few times. We meet at each other’s houses and I think I’ve met with them a few times—maybe three or four times—which has been really nice. I love to have that social contact with them. My husband and I, we did go for a little holiday, but then when we came back, my mother had another TIA and that’s when my I called my brothers and they all came. So, we’re in crisis. We’re just starting to get out of crisis mode now.
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- Support from family and friends – Ginny
When others take care of her mother, Ginny worries that she is giving them a lot of responsibility. - Society and caregiving – Ginny
Ginny has learned how important it is to do nice things for others. She hopes she will have the time to continue visiting the nursing home to brighten people’s days. - Resources – Ginny
When Ginny’s mother was late to go to her care group, Ginny decided to pay someone to help her mother get ready. - Navigating the system – Ginny
Ginny’s friend is a nurse practitioner. She can ask her to see her mother. - Home care and live-in caregivers – Ginny
Having a new home care worker every day was difficult for Ginny and her mother. Eventually, Ginny decided they might be better off without the help. - Health system issues – Ginny
When Ginny found support, it always arrived almost too late. She wishes the system could be more proactive. - Caring for yourself – Ginny
When Ginny’s mother is in “crisis mode”, everything is put on hold until things return to normal, including Ginny’s hobbies. - Becoming a caregiver – Ginny
When Ginny’s father died, it became clear that her mother could no longer stay at home alone; Ginny invited her mother to stay with her for a few weeks.