Care for Caregivers

Henry came into the clinic last week. He is one of my diabetic patients, so I usually know them a little better. And, Henry tends to grumble. He likes to be the “gruff” one. But, he isn’t really.

Anyhow – he came in grumbling about “mother.” Which surprised me, as I had never heard him talk about his mother before. So, I asked him what was going on.

A little background on Henry – he is 62 years old. He spent many years as a truck driver making a really good living. He had money, healthcare, and a home… and then was diagnosed with diabetes. He was unable to pass his DOT exam, so he lost his ability to drive truck, lost his income and healthcare, and eventually, lost his home. When I first met him he was homeless – living in a tent, or during the cold months, in a shed on a friend’s farm.

He started getting disability almost two years ago. In our great system, people who are determined to be disabled are not entitled to Medicare until they have been on disability for two years. (Just an aside: how on Earth does that make sense?? Someone who is disabled/vulnerable – and no healthcare? Our system is broken in so many ways.)

Once he started getting his disability, I knew he was no longer homeless. What I didn’t know is that for the last several months he has been living with and taking care of his elderly mom as she makes the slow, painful decline into dementia.

Like so many of our generation, he finds himself as the caregiver for a parent. The stress is apparent on him – his blood pressure is up, his blood sugar levels are up, his kidney function is compromised… his health is failing. Certainly some of that is due to his own healthcare issues. But as I watch people live with the stress of providing care for a parent with dementia, one of the common threads I see is that their own health and well-being is compromised.

As we debate healthcare and who is entitled to it, let us remember that any of us is one day away from having to take care of a loved one with dementia or other healthcare issues. It is a tough road to walk – and those providing the care need assistance and access to healthcare for themselves.