Golden Care Provider

ABC 36's Cody Adams reports

C1 3 families struggle as they watch them lose an understanding of reality.

Abc 36's cody adams has the story of a woman who is not letting the disease or covid 19 keep her from caring for her mother in this month's golden care provider.

Linda wilson loves and cares for her mother..

Like most of us do.

But most days her mother doesn't know it.

She says where is linda?

And i'm right there holding her hand.

Linda's mother-- florence has dimentia.

But before we talk about that linda says you really have to understand who florence was before the disease took over.

She grew up in a small town in bath county.

She was born poor but they were rich in many ways.

She had one of the most animated personalities.

Eventually they moved her into a nursing home.

But that's where linda's care really became so important.

Visiting every day.

Even doing it through a window during covid19.

I had to be innovative because i can't go into the nursing home.

So now i go every day or my sister does.

And i say push her to the window and so that's what we do now.

But maybe even more important was linda becoming an advocate for her mother..

Making sure she gets the things she needs... even if it's just a cold beer.

She loved her miller lite.

She'd put them in the freezer, let a little ice get on them.

She'd put a little salt on them.

And she'd say bring me a cold bur, because it wasn't beer, it was bur.

I recently signed something the other day so she could have a cold beer.

It's about what makes her happy.

Florence doesn't know linda is doing these things.

Most days shes doesn't even recognize her... but linda says it doesn't matter.

Our mother provided for us.

Our mother had probably a 7th grade education, but her and her sisters are some of the smartest people i know and it's respectful, she's my queen.

Linda says she knows she's not alone.

So many people are in her same situation.

And she has a message for others struggling... stop feeling guilty, and they won't.

But when you've exhausted and done everything for that loved one, it's what needs to happen.

For their safety.

I cry when i pull up, and i cry when i leave.

Thank you to linda for sharing your story with us and being a great care provider.

If you know someone who is an outstanding care giver you can nominate them to be honored as our golden care provider.

Just go to our website wtvq dot com and click on the contests tab... we will honor someone every month.

In studio cody adams abc 36 news.