Michael B. Care Companion in Henderson, NV 89014

A friend's 80 y/o mother became blind and the adjustment has been hard for her and created a lot of anxiety. My friend's business requires her to travel and I was one of the few people that this woman felt comfortable having in her home for weeks at a time. I am a business consultant who works virtually so it has been easy for me to get my work done in between morning, lunch, dinner, and nighttime routines.

While it may not initially seem to be, I am a spiritual person and I have appreciated the lessons in empathy and compassion, and providing care for the elderly seems like a great way to generate some good karma as I'm entering the later years of my life. I am not outwardly spiritual and have no religious identification, though I am motivated by things beyond this material existence.

The person I currently care for is blind, can hear reasonably well, and can be lead around by using a walker. She and I have a very pleasant rapport. She has a nurse come by once a week to check up on her and bathe her and another that comes by for physical therapy.

I wake her at 7 in the morning, remind her to take her meds, get her to the bathroom, prepare and serve her breakfast, then get her to the couch to watch TV for the morning. A similar routine for lunch at noon, dinner at 5, and bed time at 8. I'm in the next room working and respond to her her calling my name so that I can help her find something, start a new show, or take her to the bathroom. She has a small dog that I tend to throughout the day, too. I usually have 2-3 hours in each window to work on my laptop. I do meal prep and cleanup but I don't do housework.

I have been surprised as to how well the arrangement has worked for all of us and she is always very happy to have me stay with her. I plan to continue to spend time with her each month, and I realize I may be able to help one or two other people in the local area. I know that it really helps my friend to be able to come over for a day or two weeks to be able to cover for local appointments around the valley and for long business trips, and I could do that for a few other families as well.