My life changed forever in the Spring of 1999.
On a beautiful clear, hot, sunny day, my life and my families lives were changed by another person’s action in ways we had no way of knowing. Out for a drive to get a simple haircut, my family was hit head on by another car on the highway. That act started a new chapter in my life as a caregiver to another person as my husband was critically injured.
After nine weeks in intensive care and a step down unit, he was sent to a rehab hospital where conditions were deplorable. He remained there for one week, long enough to learn to transfer himself from a wheelchair to the bed and into the bathroom for personal care. As soon as I was able to make arrangements for a hospital bed in my home, we brought him home to heal. That is when I knew my life would be forever different.
As a mother to a three-year-old child, working full-time and now giving care for a loved one at home, I had my work cut out for me. I had no clue what I was doing… I just knew I had to care for my husband and child. I turned to friends and a few family members that lived near to come and keep my husband company when I was at work, but all of his personal care needs was on me.
He was not strong enough to get out of the hospital bed on a daily basis so I learned to care for not only his medical and therapy needs, but also bathing and other health care needs. Ever wash someone’s hair in bed? Oh, it is tough!
I thought I was a strong person before. I quickly realized how strong one needs to be to care for another on a long-term basis, both physically and mentally.
Doctor appointments were tricky with transporting my hubby. I learned how to change bandages and wound care, how to sanitize and clean personal care items and more. I looked to products I knew and trusted to help me make sure his bed, trays and personal items were spotlessly clean and sanitized for a germ free environment. Products and brands like Clorox were a staple in my home.
Today, more and more people are choosing to be a caregiver in their home. With insurance provisions changing, for many there is no option. Caring for an elderly parent, grandparent or any loved one is becoming more commonplace at home and Clorox Company has introduced help in the form of a new line of products made for home care. Clorox CareConcepts offers home care kits to help you with hygiene, germ control and home care cleaning. You can also find a community of helpful tips and information on the site. They offer a free guide to caregiving that I wish I had when I started giving care.
If you are a caregiver in your home or someone else’s, I commend you!
You can find the new line of Clorox CareConcepts kits at stores like CVS, Rite-Aid and online at Amazon, Drugstore.com and Walgreens.com. For a complete list and more information on caregiving and home care, check out the Clorox CareConcepts website.
I am still a caregiver for my husband in some ways, but he is able to do almost everything on his own now. Our whole family was changed in an instant and with that many new experiences and blessings have come our way. Taking on the role of a caregiver was difficult but there is help! All you have to do is ask.
This blog is sponsored by Clorox.
I like using Clorox products and shall look into their line of CareConcepts at CVS. I know how difficult it can be to take care of someone. I helped take care of my mother and mother-in-law when they were ill.