SPOTLIGHT: NEIDIA RANKIN

1) How long have you been a part of the Home Hospice/Nursing family? 16 Years

2) What role do have in enriching the lives of our patients/families? I have 2. I’m the voice on the other side of the phone when they call our office. I ensure them that their concerns would be taken care of once I get ahold of the discipline they are needing to speak to. I’m also a CNA- While I am with a patient I reassure the family that if they need anything, please call the office. I also get to hear what a blessing our wonderful home health aides are.

3) If you are having a bad day, what do you do to make it better? Sit back, take a deep breath, Pray and tell myself, Let go, Let God.

4) What is a food you’d NEVER eat again? Liver, YUCK

5) Describe your perfect vacation. My perfect vacation is going to Ruidoso into the mountains to a cabin.

6) What is the first thing you think of when you get up in the morning? I am blessed to take another breath.

7) What song best describes your life? I have several lol. Color Me Badd “Wildflower”, Kelly Clarkson “Piece by Piece”, Bill Currington “She’s got a way with me”

8) If your pet could talk, what 3 questions would you want the answers to? Are you happy with us? Do you like your name? What do you like doing?

9) Would you rather have a PAUSE button or REWIND? I would like a REWIND button. Go back in time and make things right with my biological dad. Spend more time with him. Let him get to know his grandsons. Care for him until he took his last breath.

10) What is your secret to a good life? Let Go Let God, always stay positive.

“I’m going wherever you’re going, you can’t get rid of me…”

My husband and I had anticipated this… with no idea as to when it might occur. My mother remained working full-time – in retail sales, on her feet more than 8 hours a day, at least 5 days a week, well into her late seventies. She was a retail rock-star! But the time had come for her to slow down. The physical toll was catching up. And her life journey left her with one retirement option: to move in with us.

Then came the reality check. How our worlds changed – immediately. We have all had to take a step back, take a deep breath and assess the future plan. How do we combine two households full of stuff? Do we need to move into a safer home? How can we give her a space to call her own? How is this going to affect any of us monetarily? Will my work situation have to change? How can we cover the new bills? How do we add her pets into our already overflowing dog-pack? What had been the occasional request to take Mom to the doctor has now become a regular activity – eyes, ears, mouth and nose… every doctor, every cold… every emotional response to the huge changes in her life – depression, anxiety, boredom, lack of self-worth, fear of being a burden and full-on panic.

So many questions… and no time left to mull it over. It was crunch time.

But there’s all kinds of good stuff! Mom loves to clean house! Our dogs adore her as if they were small children, and believe me they are fabulous con-artists. Mom loves our neighborhood, and new shopping experiences…and having us near her side. This phase of living is a new adventure – I remember to step back, to breathe, and to savor each adventure together. Love will find the way.

Are you facing the decision to have your parent move in with you? Every family situation is different. Consider whether home health or hospice are medical plans of care which can provide you with an entire team of help! Have those discussions at your dinner table… today!

If you are still employed, it may be helpful to take some time away from your job to put things in order. A very important development for caregivers was the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Your employer is required by federal law to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to eligible employees, for certain family and medical reasons.

And, take some time to check out the Family Caregiver Alliance website – it is an incredible resource if you can’t even begin to think of where to start!

Now if we can just get her to remember to close the bathroom door!

Family Caregiver Alliance
National Center on Caregiving
Website: www.caregiver.org