14 Years as Caregiver to my Mom
If you are someone in the middle of your life—perhaps juggling your own family and/or your career, as well as the growing needs of your aging parents—I want you to know one thing: you’re not alone.
Hi, I’m Dawna Williams. My caregiving journey started back in 2009 when I had just finished some schooling and was searching for a new position in Higher Education, my chosen career field. I decided to come back in the interim to visit my parents. I quickly noticed that my mom was struggling with cognition issues and my dad was struggling to help her. I made the choice to stay…how could I not? None of my siblings lived close by, and I couldn’t just leave again and abandon my parents.
My visit turned into 14 years, and my world soon revolved around learning how to care for my Mom and supporting my Dad as he tried his best to continue to care for his “bride.” I’ve lived through the late-night ER visits after falls, the attempt to find solutions for everything from diabetic neuropathy to lessening mobility, as well as the navigation of friend and family input while trying to do everything for the person who once did everything for me.
After 11 years of caregiving while sharing my parents’ home, the decision was made for them to move into an independent living facility…right at the start of the pandemic lockdowns in 2020. I had about 6 weeks of visiting them and getting them set up in their new home before the pandemic hit and I found myself having to care remotely via an Echo Show device as I wasn’t allowed to enter their building. That’s why my Facebook page has always been called the Transitional Caregiver…I had to learn very quickly how to navigate care from a distance.
I know how it feels to walk away from a career to care for a parent. I know what it’s like to focus so intently on the care of another that I believed that a part of me was gone, seemingly forever. I also know how it feels to care for the duration of my parents’ last life chapters, and how to honor them and try to maintain their dignity to their very end.
Caregiving isn’t just a series of tasks; it’s a profound life transition. It’s the season the roles shift and you become the guardian of your parent’s dignity. You learn patience, and realize the depth of your resilience. During those 14 years, I realized that while I can’t make caregiving easy, I can absolutely make it easier.
As a starting place, I’m building this community (and the Transitional Caregiver Facebook page) to share solutions I discovered along the way. As this site grows, I will be including the expertise of other Caregivers here, to share what they’ve learned with you.
This page is much more about YOU than me. More Caregiver voices will be added here as this caregiving movement grows…we’re all in this together and we’re all experts in OUR specific caregiving situation. This online space will continue to grow as more Caregivers share their knowledge and expertise here.
You don’t have to navigate this caregiving season alone. There’s an army of people just like you who’ve been in similar situations and have found solutions that can help.
We’re working towards Making Caregiving Easier for YOU.