Thank you for taking the time to learn about my grandmother and our story... that already means more than you know.
Hi, my name is Brandon. This is honestly hard for me to write, but I’m reaching out because I want to do everything I can to keep my grandmother safe and stable. I am her full-time caregiver. She lives with Alzheimer’s disease, and I help her every day with basic needs...meals, hygiene, medication, and making sure she’s safe at home.
**A Note About My Grandmother**
Before Alzheimer’s, my grandmother was truly what people mean when they say someone is an angel. She practically raised my brother and me. My mother worked hard to provide for us, but my grandmother was there for the everyday moments...helping with homework, cooking, cleaning, picking us up from the bus stop, making sure we got home safe.
If we were scared at night, she would sing to us until we fell asleep. Every Sunday, she took us to church. She worked for nearly 30 years as a cafeteria lady, serving meals to children, and still somehow always had time and energy to take care of us.
What stands out most about her is how she treated other people. When I was younger, she would visit nursing homes and hospitals just to spend time with people...talking with them, singing to them, comforting them. Everyone who met her always said the same thing...how kind and gentle she was.
Even now, that hasn’t changed. She may not be able to hold long conversations anymore, but when people in our building see her, they light up. A simple “hello” from her still makes people smile. They hug her, they’re happy to see her...because that warmth is still there.
One of my strongest memories of her is from when I was about seven years old. We were downtown Los Angeles, and I got separated from her in a crowd. I was terrified. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and there she was...smiling at me in that calm, reassuring way. In that moment, everything felt okay again. That’s what I want to be for her now. I want her to feel safe. I want her to feel cared for. I want her to know that everything is okay.
Recently, we lost a major source of income we were relying on. She still receives Social Security, but it is not enough to cover rent, utilities, and essential care needs.
At the same time, I am actively in the process of becoming her approved caregiver through IHSS (In-Home Support Services). This will provide income and stability, and it pays retroactively...but it takes time to complete. Right now, we are in that gap.
I want to be clear: I am not sitting still. I am: Completing IHSS as quickly as possible, actively looking for work, applying for assistance programs, and managing her care every day.
This fundraiser is to help us stay stable while those solutions come through. Funds will go toward rent, utilities (electricity and internet for communication and medical needs), basic care supplies, and daily necessities. My goal is simple: To keep her safe, at home, and cared for.
If you’re able to help, I’m deeply grateful. If not, even sharing this would mean a lot. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Hi, my name is Brandon. This is honestly hard for me to write, but I’m reaching out because I want to do everything I can to keep my grandmother safe and stable. I am her full-time caregiver. She lives with Alzheimer’s disease, and I help her every day with basic needs...meals, hygiene, medication, and making sure she’s safe at home.
**A Note About My Grandmother**
Before Alzheimer’s, my grandmother was truly what people mean when they say someone is an angel. She practically raised my brother and me. My mother worked hard to provide for us, but my grandmother was there for the everyday moments...helping with homework, cooking, cleaning, picking us up from the bus stop, making sure we got home safe.
If we were scared at night, she would sing to us until we fell asleep. Every Sunday, she took us to church. She worked for nearly 30 years as a cafeteria lady, serving meals to children, and still somehow always had time and energy to take care of us.
What stands out most about her is how she treated other people. When I was younger, she would visit nursing homes and hospitals just to spend time with people...talking with them, singing to them, comforting them. Everyone who met her always said the same thing...how kind and gentle she was.
Even now, that hasn’t changed. She may not be able to hold long conversations anymore, but when people in our building see her, they light up. A simple “hello” from her still makes people smile. They hug her, they’re happy to see her...because that warmth is still there.
One of my strongest memories of her is from when I was about seven years old. We were downtown Los Angeles, and I got separated from her in a crowd. I was terrified. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and there she was...smiling at me in that calm, reassuring way. In that moment, everything felt okay again. That’s what I want to be for her now. I want her to feel safe. I want her to feel cared for. I want her to know that everything is okay.
Recently, we lost a major source of income we were relying on. She still receives Social Security, but it is not enough to cover rent, utilities, and essential care needs.
At the same time, I am actively in the process of becoming her approved caregiver through IHSS (In-Home Support Services). This will provide income and stability, and it pays retroactively...but it takes time to complete. Right now, we are in that gap.
I want to be clear: I am not sitting still. I am: Completing IHSS as quickly as possible, actively looking for work, applying for assistance programs, and managing her care every day.
This fundraiser is to help us stay stable while those solutions come through. Funds will go toward rent, utilities (electricity and internet for communication and medical needs), basic care supplies, and daily necessities. My goal is simple: To keep her safe, at home, and cared for.
If you’re able to help, I’m deeply grateful. If not, even sharing this would mean a lot. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Organizer
