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.
Transcript
I think, yes. I think it’s to really look on the positive side and do something positive every day for others. I just so appreciate when somebody does something for someone else, whether it was my mother or whether I saw somebody doing something kind for somebody else in the care centre. There’s nothing, I think, that is nicer than seeing somebody who needs help get that help and be more comfortable and happy. Making a person smile, there’s nothing more pleasant than that.
I thought I would find this very difficult, and some questions I did find very difficult talking about. But I think I’ve shared a lot. I feel that I’ve covered almost all of the points that I think… My mother is one of the lucky ones, I think. She has family; she has me. But when I look around at some of the places, there are people who don’t have anyone. I think if there’s something that we can do to brighten someone’s day who doesn’t have anyone, I think that would be something that would be important. And I know how much these people love the people who work here. They become like a family and the person-to-person contact is just so important. I think those people who don’t have anyone deserve to have somebody come and visit them, or bring them a flower, even just talk to them in the hallway. And I know I try to do that, and I know that my daughter tries to do that. If somebody looks like they need a little bit of help, we’ll offer. And that’s one thing that I never would have thought before. I never would have thought to offer my time in a nursing home. But I certainly will now. And even when mom passes, I hope that I would find that little bit of time to do something for others.
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- Support from family and friends – GinnyWhen others take care of her mother, Ginny worries that she is giving them a lot of responsibility.
- Society and caregiving – GinnyGinny 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 – GinnyWhen 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 – GinnyGinny’s friend is a nurse practitioner. She can ask her to see her mother.
- Home care and live-in caregivers – GinnyHaving 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 – GinnyWhen Ginny found support, it always arrived almost too late. She wishes the system could be more proactive.
- Caring for yourself – GinnyWhen Ginny’s mother is in “crisis mode”, everything is put on hold until things return to normal, including Ginny’s hobbies.
- Becoming a caregiver – GinnyWhen 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.