Help paying for in-Home Care
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Anyone who knows Frank knows how strong and independent he used to be. He left home at 18 to become a general contractor, and built a successful career as a home builder, constructing luxury homes as large as 10,000 sf. Frank was strong, like an ox, and could move mountains for most of his life.
Tragically, he fell off a roof in 2006 and that changed our lives. The fall shattered both his feet and ankles, broke his left tibia, and he spent 2 years in recovery. He never fully recovered, and he never worked again. So I (Cheri) became head of household, took some classes, started working two jobs, and we soldiered on.
To make matters worse, however, in 2018 at age 56, Frank was diagnosed with early dementia, linked to the traumatic brain injury he suffered in the fall. At first it came on slowly, but this terrible disease is now taking over Frank’s body and mind and has reached the point that he needs full-time observation and care. He is easily confused, doesn’t always recognize our children, can’t make his own meals, and is incapable of proper hygiene. We fear, too, that he’ll wander from the house or hurt himself.
It has been hard to witness Frank’s decline and now we’re at the point where we must ask for help with hiring in-home care. A friend was providing care for a while, but now that Frank’s condition is more demanding, she is no longer able to help. I and my three adult kids (2 which have their own homes some distance away) have adjusted our schedules to fill the gaps as much as we can, but our jobs demand us to be on site most of the time. And of course, Frank’s condition will only get worse.
An hour of care is $30, so that means a year of part-time care (just 12 hrs per week) will cost me an additional $18,000 out of pocket. This is an unimaginable sum, and we’ll continue to manage our schedules to cover gaps, but eventually, that is a reality we must face. If you could help us with a day, an hour, a week or anything else, we’d really appreciate it. All funds provided will be used to hire caregivers for Frank. Thank you so much for considering our family. And Frank. He means the world to us.
Cheri with Tony, Angie, and Nick
Tragically, he fell off a roof in 2006 and that changed our lives. The fall shattered both his feet and ankles, broke his left tibia, and he spent 2 years in recovery. He never fully recovered, and he never worked again. So I (Cheri) became head of household, took some classes, started working two jobs, and we soldiered on.
To make matters worse, however, in 2018 at age 56, Frank was diagnosed with early dementia, linked to the traumatic brain injury he suffered in the fall. At first it came on slowly, but this terrible disease is now taking over Frank’s body and mind and has reached the point that he needs full-time observation and care. He is easily confused, doesn’t always recognize our children, can’t make his own meals, and is incapable of proper hygiene. We fear, too, that he’ll wander from the house or hurt himself.
It has been hard to witness Frank’s decline and now we’re at the point where we must ask for help with hiring in-home care. A friend was providing care for a while, but now that Frank’s condition is more demanding, she is no longer able to help. I and my three adult kids (2 which have their own homes some distance away) have adjusted our schedules to fill the gaps as much as we can, but our jobs demand us to be on site most of the time. And of course, Frank’s condition will only get worse.
An hour of care is $30, so that means a year of part-time care (just 12 hrs per week) will cost me an additional $18,000 out of pocket. This is an unimaginable sum, and we’ll continue to manage our schedules to cover gaps, but eventually, that is a reality we must face. If you could help us with a day, an hour, a week or anything else, we’d really appreciate it. All funds provided will be used to hire caregivers for Frank. Thank you so much for considering our family. And Frank. He means the world to us.
Cheri with Tony, Angie, and Nick
Organizer
Cheri Mataraza
Organizer
Chardon, OH