Jose M. Care Companion in Jacksonville, IL 62650

I grew up in Mexico and moved to US in 2003 to work in my brother's restaurant. In 2005, I returned to Mexico to care for my father who had cancer. I took care for him for almost 2 years and knew it was a blessing that he was able to live out his final years with family at home. After my father passed, I moved back to the US and married my wife. Her father was in the early stages of dementia when we married. My wife and I took care of her father part time from 2008-2009, which consisted of preparing meals for him and keeping him safe. In 2009, her father moved in with us. My wife, a high school teacher, couldn't stay home with him, so I left my job and began caring for him full time. The care progressed to spoon feeding, incontinence care, medications, grooming and bathing, walking around neighborhood with him, and conversation when possible. When he entered into hospice in 2011 and was unable to leave his bed, I continued to care for him and added a daily exercise routine to keep bedsores from forming. Once again, I was happy to provide care for someone because I understand that staying home in a comfortable, caring, and familiar place is so important for our loved ones.