This Caregiver Became Like Family to Rick Hamlin
Listen as Guideposts’ Executive Editor has a conversation with Nora, the inspiring woman who cared for Rick’s mother in her final years.
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Rick: Hi, I’m Rick Hamlin and this is Nora, Mom’s wonderful caregiver. So I’m gonna ask Nora a couple of questions. Nora, how does a family help a caregiver like you?
Nora: I treat them as my family and then every day I have to cheer her up.
Rick: How do you cheer her up? What do you do to cheer her up?
Nora: In the morning I always said, “Good morning, how are you? How are you feeling today?” Then sometimes, “Oh, I don’t feel good,” I said, “Oh, don’t worry about it, just say, even though you feel bad or good, just say ‘I feel good.'”
Rick: Oh, just to see you have a positive attitude.
Nora: Yeah, positive, you must have always a positive attitude.
Rick: But you know, that was one of your hallmarks as a caregiver is your positive attitude.
Nora: Oh, yeah.
Rick: Now, when you were a caregiver for Mom, you guys always seemed to have these little jokes between you sometimes.
Nora: Oh yeah.
Rick: You would laugh.
Nora: Yeah, I really wanted her to feel good always.
Rick: To make her feel good.
Nora: Feel good, no matter how she feels.
Rick: You were like family to us when you cared for my mom.
Nora: Oh yeah?
Rick: You know that.
Nora: Oh, you’re so nice
Rick: No, I’m telling you the truth.
Nora: She’s the only, she’s my patient who treats me like a family.
Rick: She was a patient who treats you like family.
Nora: Others, no.
Rick: Others don’t always do that.
Nora: No.
Rick: But so that’s how a patient can really help is by just treating the caregiver like family. That’s helpful. Thanks, we love you.
Nora: I don’t deserve this. You’re so nice family.
Rick: Thank you.