@gloro - This is wonderful, helping to make something more tangible than it is, by nature.
My sister & I have just transitioned our 94-yr old mother to "Personal Care", which is not necessarily very "Personal", but so it is with the medical and care community in general, (with all due respect to those who stand out and go above and beyond).
Fortunately we have found a local provider called "Seniors Helping Seniors" and have had 2 visitors to my mother who have become welcome breaks for her for 3 - 4 hrs a day, now 6 days per week. It does add up, and we are all thankful that there are the resources to allow for this visiting.
Nothing changes the facts of aging, though, and that is hard for my mother nearly always. Again, thankfully she is of sound mind, and can get around with a walker, and that was only after (~2 yrs ago) she fell & broke her arm because she wouldn't agree to use a walker/rollator.
Well, there's more to it, but as far as caregiving goes, so far so good. When Mom was in independent living on the same property she struggled with the idea of having a visitor come in to her personal space (home), and the self-imposed pressure of coming up with things for that person to do while there.
Now, fortunately, it seems she is more comfortable with these "Senior" visitors, and with not having to keep them occupied, but having their company.
It's a hard road, and each person's travels vary, but the common denominator seems to be being able to connect to another. And I can say, at 67, that has been my lifelong search anyway: connection.
Warm, warm wishes to all on this journey.
My mom is 98 and got dimentia 3 years ago. Up until then she was independent but of course lived near me and I visited daily. Her dimentia came on quick. I applied for Medicaid for her since she didn’t have assets, her condo I put in a trust. I luckily found an independent living place 12 minutes from me where she resides, with 24 hour live in personal care, room and board. Her SS and pension pay for room and board, I add a little into it each month. The aid is taken care of by Medicaid.
She is pretty much in full dimentia now, very happy and pleasant and likes where she is and is getting great care. I visit often and she knows me and my family, she knows her family. We celebrate holidays there and I take her out on occasion as she needs Ambulette.
I am so grateful to have found this facility - I can put my head on my pillow at night and I don’t worry anymore. My life was a nightmare from when she was age 91-96 when she lived alone for fear of falling, or not being able to help herself at night.
Caregivers are a blessing but challenging to find good caring ones sometimes.