First Blog

So here we are, traveling to another destination on the Social Work Cafe.

I am a social worker, a wife, a daughter, a friend... a new friend. I thought that it would be interesting to do some random journaling... journeying... about my experience as a social worker in the field of elder care. Through surfing the web I find others that are struggling to get their voices heard; whether it is through status updates, or tweets, or SPAM. A blog, I think... or hope is a more gentle way of getting your voice... views heard. Don't you think?

Okay, so here we go... Well, I am a counselor at the Alzheimer's Association National Helpline 800-272-3900, and I have been here for almost three years. Yes, I am typing from work... tonight I have the overnight shift and it has been quiet for the last few hours. Earlier, there was a woman on the phone with me, scared that her husband had slammed the front door on her hand as he walked out of the house. Is he going to be okay out there in the rain I asked? Should I call the police? Is he safe? How do I comfort the caller? These are the questions going through my mind almost on every call these days.

Clients who call the Helpline are so stressed by finances, emotional swings, feelings of hopelessness. How do you tell someone to have hope when this disease is so devastating to one's personality? All I can do is tell them that they are not alone in their struggles. Many people, including myself, have seen their loved ones die, yet their bodies live on as a stranger inhabits their corpse. It's eerie. It takes so much strength to take care of an adult who is as vulnerable as a child, yet you want to remember them for who they are and what remarkable things they used to do when they were healthy.

"Healthy"... a term that has to be flexible with each new stage of this horrible disease. Is it healthy to be able bodied but have no idea who you are or who the people are around you, caring for you? Is health recognized as you have a peaceful moment in your day when your loved one isn't repeating themselves or feeling distressed because they are distracted for a mere moment when they are eating a meal?

It all sound pretty hopeless... but the people I speak with as so driven because they love the person with the disease. I'm driven because of my personal experience with the disease.