Monday, June 28, 2010

Henry McCambridge's Story: Being My Father's Caregiver

Today I am pleased to post an article from a member of our group who has volunteered to tell us about his experience caregiving for his father who has Parkinson's disease. Henry has given up his career to take care of his Dad. We tend to forget the many sacrifices many caregivers make for those they love. This is a touching and remarkable story. Bonnie

BEING MY FATHER'S CAREGIVER
My father has always been an active and outgoing man. However, he developed Parkinson's disease in his 70s. It started with a slight trembling of the hands but this gradually worsened over time with akinesia and dementia appearing in the later stages. The decline in health depressed my father. It was heartbreaking to see the most influential man in my life lose the ability to take care of himself.

Before my father fell sick with Parkinson's disease, I was a full-time paralegal living only a few blocks away from him. When the doctor informed my sister and I that our father may require a dedicated caregiver, I volunteered to quit my job as my sister lives in another city with a family of her own.

Once I moved in to my father’s house, the first thing that I did was clean out all the clutter so that he could not trip. I then made sure that all of his chairs had a comfortable backrest with strong armrests so that he could lift himself out of them. To make sure that my father would be able to contact me when I am not at home, I purchased a personal medical alarm system. Renovating the bathroom was a more daunting task. I replaced the traditional bathtub with a walk-in one that is equipped with a seat. I also installed railings on the wall next to the toilet and bathtub so that it would be easier for him to move around.

My father now takes a longer time to complete daily tasks, such as getting dressed and taking a shower. He often gets frustrated with himself and irritated at his reliance on me. Sometimes I too become impatient and try to rush him, but that is often counter-productive. I now learn to use humor to alleviate the frustration. When my father is struggling with a task, I will crack a joke so he will lighten up.

Now that my father is no longer able to drive, I have become his driver. We go on regular outings to the park and store so that he has a chance to get outside. I make sure to stay by his side during these excursions so that I can assist him with anything.

When taking care of my father first became my full-time job, I experienced a lot of stress due to the loss of my social life. Plus witnessing the deterioration of my father’s health is a heartbreaking process. To help alleviate this stress and to give the both of us a break, I hire a caregiver from the local clinic twice a month. This gives me a chance to go out with some friends. While I enjoy the time off, I must say that I am always anxious to get back home and see my dad. He will always be the most important role model in my life and nothing can change the love that I feel for him.

REFERENCES:
Terms:
http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease/article.htm
Definition of Akinesia:
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6988
Medic Alert Alarms:
http://www.directalert.ca/

17 comments:

  1. Dear Henry,
    Thank you for sharing your touching and remarkable story. My Father also has Parkinsons and we are still coming to terms with 'the changes' that result due Parkinsons.The despair my family found ourselves in was absolutely incredibly, it was absolutely indescribable. You see my brother also has a profound disability.
    I believe we all wanted to run screaming down a street shouting, "I want peace". My wonderful Mum
    and I decided to put our energy into staying positive and agree time out is essential.
    You already know things that work for you. You know that if you can go for a walk, read a favourite poem, stroke a dog, bake a loaf of bread, you will be restored to emotional health. So write these things down, keep them in a file, keep adding to them and you will have written your own self-help book.
    Keep smiling-your dad and you are lucky that you have each other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
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    ReplyDelete
  3. It's indeed a miracle I can't believe am finally free from herpes virus, am grateful to this powerful herbalist called Dr Perfect.
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    3. Gonorrhoea
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    6. Asepsis
    7. Cancer
    8. Cerebrospinal meingtitis
    9. Infertility problems
    10. Als/ebv
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    12. Enlargement of any type
    13. Getting back ex lover/divorce
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    16. Arthritis
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  7. Great post mate, thank you for the valuable and useful information. Keep up the good work! FYI, please check these depression, stress and anxiety related articles:

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    22 Ways To Become More Positive – How To Become Positive


    25 Ways To Forget Unwanted Memories – How to Forget a Bad Memory


    Top 25 Ways To Reduce Stress – How To Reduce Stress


    21 Ways To Get Rid Of Anger – How To Get Rid Of Anger


    How to Know When Depression Is Serious


    21 Ways To Get Rid Of Anger – Alcohol and Depression


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  9. the godfather of herbal medicine. I had been going from one country to another for medication for several years just to be cured from herpes but all seems in vain, i was confused and decided to search through the Internet if i could get any news concerning herpes so i do keep searching until i visited one particular site and i saw the great testimonies from different persons testifying how doctor Ogogo has cure them from herpes and other diseases and i was shock and was thinking if this is real, after a due consideration i decided to contact him with the link he posted just to give it a trail and when i contacted him he proved to me that his herbal medicine can cure me if only i believe in it, so i requested for his herbal medicine and i got it and i applied it as prescribed and after 3weeks.thanking God for using doctor Dr.Ogogo to cure me. so if you are out there and you are suffering from or any kind of illness do contact.him through;email: drogogospelltemple@gmail.com or through WhatsApp;+2348162977063....

    ReplyDelete
  10. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a year ago at the age of 55. For several months I had noticed tremors in my right hand and the shaking of my right foot when I was sitting. My normally beautiful cursive writing was now small cramped printing. And I tended to lose my balance. Neurologist had me walk down the hall and said I didn’t swing my right arm. I had never noticed! I was in denial for a while as there is no history in my family of parents and five siblings, but now accept I had classic symptoms. I was taking pramipexole (Sifrol), carbidopa/levodopa and Biperiden, 2 mg. and started physical therapy to strengthen muscles. nothing was really working to help my condition. I went off the Sifrol (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started on Parkinson's herbal formula i ordered from www.solutionhealthherbalclinic.com, my symptoms totally declined over a 7 weeks use of the Parkinson's disease natural herbal formula. I am now almost 60 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed!! Visit there website www.solutionhealthherbalclinic.com OR E-mil: info@solutionhealthherbalclinic.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. My symptoms started at the age of 47. My fingers on my left hand were stiff and were difficult to move. People noticed that my walk was not normal. I was often asked did I hurt. I noticed nothing different about my walk. It was difficult getting up from` a chair and getting out of a car. I was diagnosed a year later ,it was the onset of tremors starting in my right hand that caused my other symptoms to be recognized as Parkinson's.. I am now 59. With the new herbal medicine i purchase from totalcureherbsfoundation .c om  was my only way to get rid of my PD,the herbal formula effectively reverse my condition and alleviate all my symptoms. 

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dr. Iyabiye is a herbal specialist he treat/cure HEPATITIS and CIRRHOSIS and other deadly diseases. My name is Russel and I was ones a victim of chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis, I got cured with his medication and I am safe and free now. I am testifying to his great work so that you too can be safe from hepatitis or any life threatening disease. His contacts are: iyabiyehealinghome@gmail.com Call/Whatsapp: +2348072229413

    ReplyDelete

  13. I was diagnosed of Parkinson disease 4 years ago, I started Azilect,
    then Mirapex as the disease progressed. In January last year, I
    started on PARKINSON DISEASE HERBAL PROTOCOL from Ultimate Herbal Clinic
    Few months into the treatment, I made a significant recovery.
    Almost all my symptoms are gone, great improvement with my movement
    and balance. Its been a year, life has been so good! Reach them at
    www.ultimateherbalclinic.com

    ReplyDelete

  14. My husband was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease at 57.his symptoms were shuffling of feet,slurred speech, low volume speech, degradation of hand writing, horrible driving skills, right arm held at 45 degree angle, things were tough for me, but now he finally free from the disease with the help of total cure ultimate health home, he now walks properly and all symptoms has reversed, he had trouble with balance especially at night, getting into the shower and exiting it is difficult,getting into bed is also another thing he finds impossible.we had to find a better solution for his condition which has really helped him a lot,the biggest helped we had was ultimatehealthhome they walked us through the proper steps,am highly recommended this ultimatehealthhome@gmail.com to anyone who needs help.

    ReplyDelete
  15. i was diagnosed of parkinson disease 5 years ago,i started azilect,then mirapex as the disease progressed in february last year,and i started on parkinson disease herbal medicine from ultimate life clinic,few months into the treatment  i made a significant recovery,almost all my symptoms are gone,great improvement with my movement and balance,it been a year and life has been so good for me,reach them through there website at www.ultimatelifeclinic.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am now 59. With the new herbal medicine for Parkinson I purchased from  Multivitamincare . org  was my only way to get rid of my PD,the herbal formula effectively reversed my condition and alleviated all my symptoms, people are suffering from this Parkinson disease due to lack of information.

    ReplyDelete

If you have questions you would like answered about caregiving a person with Parkinson's Disease in future posts, please add them to your comment. I have no medical knowledge and cannot discuss drug treatments.