About Suzanne
Dedicated Daughter
My mother lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for 50 years. Caregiving responsibilities began for me at five, after my mother returned from the hospital in a wheelchair following a broken pelvis. From a young age, I assisted her by fetching pills, performing range of motion exercises for her feet, and pushing her wheelchair in public.
By age 27, my mother faced quadriplegia challenges. After she broke her hip and required surgery, medical professionals recommended that she reside in a nursing home. However, both my mother and I decided to continue her care at home. Despite healthcare providers' initial reluctance to discharge her back home to me, a young caregiver in her twenties, we demonstrated that her care could be effectively managed at home. A comprehensive care system was developed, proving capability in managing all aspects of her life.
The following year, daily needs were co-managed while I moved out of state to attend law school. Since my mother did not qualify for subsidized home care, a team of five to nine private aides was employed to provide personal and household assistance, while I coordinated and managed everything behind the scenes. A detailed care manual was created to ensure efficiency and prompt response to any contingencies. This system proved successful. After passing the bar, I moved into my mother's home to provide continuous supervision, backup hands-on care, and supportive co-management.
Additionally, I consulted with caregiving families.
Fourteen years later, my mother moved to a skilled nursing facility. My caregiving role transitioned to multi-weekly companionship visits, supportive co-decision making, and advocacy for appropriate care at the facility and with her health and social care providers. Throughout this 19-year journey, I provided direct care, co-managing support, accommodation strategies, effective healthcare advocacy, protection against fraud and abuse, financial and legal co-management of responsibilities, implementation of modifications to her home, transportation to appointments, and facilitated social connections for my mother. I navigated a wide array of family caregiving challenges.