My life transformed when I took on the sacred role of primary caregiver for my beloved 96-year-old grandfather, "Poppy Pop." As Poppy Pop's health declined in an assisted living facility, I began to feel a powerful, protective urge to use my extensive experience. After witnessing his care from the sidelines, the immense frustration and a heartfelt conviction that he deserved better helped me put thoughts to action. Fueled by an overwhelming motivation to prioritize my own family, I courageously chose to bring him to my home to care for him. Two days after his final major surgery, our home's sunroom became a sanctuary of care. I devoted myself to every task: managing complex medical needs, creating care plans, and providing constant physical care, willingly providing my grandfather a loving, familiar environment in his final season of life. Those were the things I knew well.
However, when the unexpected or unplanned happened, it truly humbled this tenured nurse: learning what resources were available or did he qualify for, balancing raising three boys while caregiving in my home, trusting how or who for relief/respite care/vacations, communicating and coordinating with insurance carriers, managing my personal emotions and boundaries while maintaining a sense of professionalism and all the while coordinating with and keeping family informed, up to date and involved (as a family member myself) in a healthy and balanced way. Those were just a few of the challenges I wasn’t expecting.
Alongside the difficult work, I cherished invaluable moments—sharing old westerns, playing checkers, and listening to his treasured stories. These times of profound connection brought new understandings, deeper appreciation, and a vital new perspective on life and love. Though initially validated by nursing Poppy Pop back to a reasonable state of health and many strides toward his baseline health, my heart began to break as I began to realize his full recovery would never come. I watched with profound sadness as my hero and best friend gradually declined. The loss of Poppy Pop left me feeling broken and with a profound sense of failure, leading me to step away from the profession I had loved for over two decades.
Working with seniors later revealed a powerful truth: true caregiving is less about helping someone get better and more about helping them be better—preserving their dignity and enriching their quality of life, regardless of their health status. I quickly learned that I was not alone; countless families face the same daily challenges with senior care. Even those with extensive clinical backgrounds often struggle with the complex decisions and unknowns that come with navigating the aging process. In honor of Poppy Pop and the profound love we shared, I made a solemn commitment: to ensure every senior receives the dignity, respect, and compassionate care they truly deserve. This means providing them with the necessary resources, education, and a strong voice to make informed decisions and confidently advocate for their own well-being. This deep conviction became the foundation for Need-A-Nurse, PLLC. Through my work as an Independent Nurse Advocate in Senior Care Consulting and Advocacy, I provide more than just expertise; I offer unbiased, informative, and a deeply supportive partnership. My hope and dream—that no family should ever have to face the complexities of the aging process alone—is now a guiding reality for every client I serve.