Name:
Joe Mendiola
Location:
Boise
Caregiver Relationship:
Parent
Living Arrangements:
Share Home
Primary Illness:
Pulmonary Disease
My name is Joe. I am 48 years old and quit my job 4+ years ago to take care of my parents. My Dad suffers from advanced emphysema and my Mom has had 3 major strokes which left her essentially blind and lacking in reasoning skills. I'm lucky that they are both currently semi-mobile and can take care of their own toileting and they can afford (at this time) to privately pay for a bath aide 3 times a week. By quitting my job, I not only gave up my income, but my health care benefits and Social Security contributions.
Wish List:
I would like to see some form of affordable health care for myself. If the members of Congress were to pay for their own health care, I would imagine this would become a higher priority
I would also like to Congress to realize that the "sacrifices" made by family care gicers are saving the government a ton of money.