Missing my biggest fan: Caring for my mom motivated me into action
A heavenly anniversary date for my mother
Hello KIRC fam,
The past few days have been bittersweet for my heart and mind.
It has been three years since I said goodbye to my mother, Mrs. Nellie P. Yarbough. I sat by her side, gently holding her hand as she breathed her last breath.
It feels almost like it was just yesterday, yet I know the hands of time have kept turning.
I miss my mom every day. Has the grief of her passing paralyzed my ability to move forward? No.
However, there is what I believe will be a never-ending emptiness in my being, when I realize ‘my biggest fan’ is on the other side (wherever that may happen to be).
Memories of my mother spark up at all kinds of moments. With three years of hindsight, most of those moments and memories make me smile. Sometimes a tear might well up, but more often it is a feeling of warmth, acceptance, and hoping I did right by my mom in her final years.
I choose to believe my mother is off somewhere playing bingo, hopefully by a window so that when she looks out there is field filled with flowers.
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I suspect she is having as much KFC for dinner as she likes, and maybe - just maybe - dancing to some old Johnny Mathis tunes. But more than anything, I hope she is happy and at peace.
Moving forward
As I spend part of this weekend simply sitting with my emotions, I think it is only fitting to also share with you another nugget of how my caregiving role motivated the creation of KIRC, and my personal mission.
Thanks to all of YOU who support Keeping It REAL Caregiving. I know this is a tough topic. I continue to review this entire concept to figure out:
How can I best help others?
How can I create/find content that is useful?
How can I continue this ‘passion’ work, while meeting the call of my career and demanding full-time work?
Just when I began to question it all, something happens. In this case, it was another team within the aging/caregiving space also working to share information. A team interested in sharing my story.
Their interest reminded me, that yes - I must continue on this path. I know the work is valuable. People are listening and taking note.
A huge thank you to the team at All Home Care Matters, for the opportunity to join host Lance Slatton, for a recent podcast episode. I am truly honored to join others in the mission to raise awareness about caregiving and provide folks practical information. Thank you!
You can check it out here and I would love some feedback from you.
How can I (we) take Keeping It REAL Caregiving to a more impactful level? Feel free to share some thoughts!
Other stories to follow…
Check out these additional news nuggets
More Americans Grow Old Alone, and Faltering Minds Bring Risks
Managing the cost of caregiving: Value of unpaid care estimated at $600 billion a year
Research Study - Call for Participants
From: Justice in Aging
Nursing Home Transitions Study Recruitment
The Community Living Equity Center (CLEC) is looking for people with lived experience to participate in a research study about disabled people of color who have transitioned out of nursing homes (or other institutions) and are now receiving home and community-based services (HCBS). The study will examine the community's experiences from a culture and language standpoint. Learn more about the study in this video and on CLEC’s website. Please share this screener questionnaire with people who may be interested in participating in an interview: English screener or Spanish screener. Participants who are selected will be compensated for their time.
And finally…
Thank you for the support and a huge WELCOME to our new subscribers! Your being here means the world to me. How have you moved forward as you transitioned after being a family caregiver? Share a comment here and perhaps offer some guidance for others.
Until next time~
Julia
