Strike A Chord: The Story of a 17-Year-Old Caregiver

Two weeks after her mother's stroke, Maggie, who had just turned 18, was approached by one of the doctors at the hospital. He asked her to sign a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate order). The doctor told Maggie:

 

"She will never come out of this [coma]. She will be a vegetable. She will never walk, talk, eat, recognize you. You should sign this document," Maggie recalled.

 

Maggie didn't sign the document. Her mother, Janet, came out of the coma. And today Janet walks around, talks, and even uses some colorful language.

 

"She curses," Maggie declared. Her mother agreed, "It's true, I curse a lot."

 

But it was a long journey. Janet sustained permanent brain damage, and spent five years at various long term care facilities relearning basic skills. But when Maggie saw that her mother's abilities were still lagging, she moved her back into their home. At the age of 23, Maggie was providing both her mother and grandmother with full time care and support.

 

Maggie said, "[My mother] couldn't get around the house by herself and my grandmother couldn't physically help. So it was me."

 

Maggie's decision to keep her mother and grandmother in their home and out of a nursing facility translated into huge costs for Maggie. But big savings for the government.

 

"If I had not taken care of my mother... She's nursing home eligible. She would be in a nursing home, and the government would have to pay for it," Maggie said.

 

Erik Kriss with AARP values the work of caregivers in New York state, who keep their loved ones out of nursing homes, at roughly 31 billion dollars. Kriss says it's compassionate and financially smart to increase funding for in-home support that would help people like Maggie.

 

"We know that these in-home support services help the caregiver and prevent burnout," Kriss said.

 

Kriss also says that 50 percent of people in nursing homes are there as a result of caregiver burnout.