Nancy H. Care Companion in Beaverton, OR 97078

Hello:
While I am not an officially 'licensed' caregiver, I have been helping my 92 year old mother-in-law with macular degeneration and dementia for the last 8 years. Right after my father-in-law died and the family was trying to keep her in her house, I would come over and set up her pills, wash her hair, clean up and of course make sure she got to all her doctor appts. Now she's in memory care so my role has changed. But I am the one that makes sure she gets out to her doctor appts, church and gets her out of "the home" as she calls it, for recreation. I'm used to wrestling either a wheel chair or walker into the car, watching out for her so she doesn't trip and fall because of her eyes and of course repeating what I say a hundred times while we're together doesn't irritate me anymore either.
Honestly I know nothing about a really sick person and how to take care of their everyday needs. However, I spent a lot of time with my mom while she died of cancer as well as being on duty the night my father-in-law died. And I used to come and sit with my neighbor while her husband got out for an evening, and she died about a month later. So I am apparently not afraid to deal with a person who isn't expect to live long. I just don't have an official training in that regard.
I have been out of the workforce for 28 years, and what I used to do as a job is now a thing of the past, thanks to the computer. My life has changed and my skills have changed. When I was in my twenties, the thought of taking an old person anywhere or doing anything with a senior citizen was beyond comprehension. But now I'm the one that's getting to be the senior citizen, and I'm wondering what the big fuss was about. ha Disclaimer: I don't deal with adult diapers and/or having to clean up feces. Sorry. I found that out the hard way. And I don't do overnights. Sorry again. Thanks, Nancy