I would like to thank the esteemed Mrs. Petra Kýhosová, without whom it would have been very difficult for me to manage my care for my mother (88).
I became a caregiver from one day to the next and I knew nothing about this activity or the various possibilities of help and support. For the first few months, when Mum was more self-sufficient, it worked quite well without help, albeit with the occasional squeak, but Mum's deteriorating condition required more and more different help. At this time I coincidentally received contact with Mrs. Petra, who began to help me both with finding the most appropriate care and assistance in my difficult situation, and with myself in our regular sessions where we discussed my feelings and conditions when I was ready to give up caring for my mother. The personal visit of Mrs. Petra at our home and the conversation with my mother was then beneficial in dealing with the future care. Mrs. Petra helped me immensely with her experience with caregivers and her expertise, she was always able to find what I needed most in a given situation.
Without her help, I would not even know what we are entitled to and what we can ask for, who can help us with care and how, what institution we can turn to for help, or who can help us with remote care (angel on a wire).
Mrs Petra's advice helped me to place my mum in respite care when I traveled out of the country, so that I could spend a few days of my holiday in peace, without worrying about my mum, so that I could switch off from caring for a short time. I think the organized carers' group meetings have also had their own considerable contribution to my clarification of relationships and attitudes to caring. Without the regular conversations with Mrs Petra, I would probably have given up on my caring efforts long ago as I was unable to properly prioritize my approach to caring for my mum. The ability to use the phone at any time of the day or night for consultation or to ask for advice in any situation was also amazing. I very much appreciated Ms. Petra's offer of her personal accompaniment when visiting hospices that I was seeking for my mother for a time when I could no longer manage home care. There are not enough words to express my gratitude and thanks for such amazing help and support I received professionally and mentally from Mrs. Petra.
Milan
