"Caring Kind" helps families navigate being caregivers for their loved ones
BRONX (WABC) -- Who are the people who care for the caregivers?
Being a caregiver is a role that few people are prepared for.
One Bronx woman who is navigating her own mother's difficult journey with dementia has some insight and advice for other caregivers.
Gwen Harper's mother, Henrietta, began showing signs of memory loss eight years ago.
"She was forgetting just a tweaking of things that were natural that I knew she knew how to do," Harper said.
Her first reaction was denial.
"You don't want to see it. You are sitting there trying to act like it is not happening. But you really see that it is something that is changing, and you can see the change. It's just hard. It's just hard," Harper said.
At 80 years old, Henrietta was diagnosed with Dementia three years ago.
Since then, Harper says their mother-daughter roles have been reversed and it hasn't been easy.
"When I look in her eyes and see this is not the same person, it hurts, it hurts. I'm the one doing for her and taking care of her. I'm not used to this, I want my mom back," Harper said.
She doesn't remember the last time someone checked and asked how she was doing.
"I can't remember the last time someone did that," Harper said.
The unexpected journey into dementia can have ripple effects for family members who must now navigate new roles affecting career paths and finances.
"You plan your life and this hits you, and it changes everything," she said.
There is help for those who need it.
Caring Kind has been supporting families affected by Alzheimer's and dementia for more than 45 years through guidance, education and programming like music therapy.
"Caring Kind has been wonderful. I'm grateful to them. Some of the things I have tried have been very helpful," Harper said.
She also shared the advice for people who are starting to notice signs in a loved one.
"I would tell them to be patient, that's really the most important thing. Life is short and we all have to be there for each other," Harper said.
It's something Harper says has made her situation so much easier is that she and her mother live in the same neighborhood. This allows her mother to live and thrive independently, the way she prefers.
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
