This Caregiver Became Like Family to Rick Hamlin

Guideposts Video: Inspiring True Stories

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.