We were 50 years apart in age. Her name was Peg. We met when I was a young girl and she was caring for her husband with late-stage dementia. We clicked immediately. She was always concocting recipes for me to try. Never let me or anyone else for that matter leave her house without something - A container of left-overs, a starter plant, or anything she could come up with. Peg was a young lady running her household when we met- not sick a day in her life. Sadly as she aged physically she relied more on outside help- but we are not there yet. She had no children and the few family members she had were miles away. I had continued my care giving days our entire relationship but not so much with her. She was my friend. She taught me. She guided me through life as any best friend would. "Save money" "Do it right the first time" Peg had cared for her mother for several years, even living outside her home to do so, she cared for an aunt, an uncle, a former co-worker/friend, and her husband. She was a dang good caregiver. She worked very hard to keep these loved ones out of nursing homes and feared nursing home life for herself due to not having any children to care for her. As Peg's body began to fail but NOT her mind- Myself and two others slowly become her daily caregivers- she seldom in the beginning admitted to needing us but relied on us for meals, errands and solving household messes. She called us her Three Musketeers. I was #1- of course- only because I knew her the longest. The musketeers had one thing in common- TO KEEP PEG HOME. Nursing homes have a great purpose in our communities but they were not for Peg. She liked to stay up late and sleep in ..in the mornings. She liked her own quiet home. So with team work- the Three Musketeers did just that. Peg didn't want to leave us. She wanted the world to know about her "girls" who took care of her purely out of love and friendship. Peg passed away quietly in her own room, in her own home of 69 years with two of her musketeers at her side. ( the other one called away to care for a family member- or she would have been there) Just as she wanted. I hope my company Musketeer Home care can help families provide the same for their loved ones. All for one- All for you.
