Healthcare to Homecare
Helping Families Bridge the Gap
from Healthcare
to Homecare
Welcome to Healthcare to Homecare!
For over 30 years, I juggled the demands of family caregiving with working outside the home, raising a family, and maintaining a home.
During those years, I slept little, ate poorly, exercised only the muscles used in the duties I performed, and stayed vigilant to signs alerting me to the next crisis. I rarely spoke to my friends, seldom went out socially, and often missed family functions.
I suffered from burnout, PTSD, and numerous other medical conditions, all of which I pretty much ignored until after my husband’s death. I was forty pounds overweight, exhausted, forgetful, and unwilling to put up with anyone’s nonsense because I simply did not have the energy to play nicely anymore.
I created this website to try to keep other caregivers from becoming like I was, or if you are already there, to help you dig your way out. I’ve used my experience as a nurse, family caregiver, and healthcare leader to give you a comprehensive strategy for caring for someone at home.
One of the most important tools you need to know as a caregiver is how to stand up for what you need when the healthcare system seems to be failing you. One of my employment roles gave me access to regulations and processes designed to help patients when systems fail them. I’ve used these myself multiple times and encourage you to know them.
I had fought too many life and death battles and demanded my right to be heard, from too many healthcare professionals, to care what anyone thought anymore.
If this sounds like your life, welcome to Healthcare to Homecare. If you are afraid, this may become your life, again, I say, “Welcome.”
I hope you will come here often and find the information useful. From one caregiver to another. Give yourself a lot of grace. You are doing the best you can, always. Give it all to God, and He will take you through it.
God Bless,
Donna
Guest Appearance on Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Join JJ Hill and Natalie Handy, hosts of “Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver,” as they interview Donna about the family caregiving roles she performed during her life, including caring for her child, spouse, mother, and father, sometimes responsible for one and other times for two at once. She also shares how these experiences led her to create a website for caregivers, https://healthcaretohomecare.com, to help them find the resources they need in caring for their families, in hopes that they won’t have to spend as much time searching for answers as she did.
https://www.youtube.com/@confessionsreluctantcaregiver
Compassion Ministry
Compassion Ministries’ goal is to help churches reach members who are homebound, family caregivers, or individuals dealing with a personal crisis. Materials provided help churches assess needs within the church, determine resources for outreach programs, and provide guidance on program development. Multiple outcomes are achieved through the program to include but not be limited to:
- Receiving the blessings of gratitude from the recipient
- Feeling the joy of the Holy Spirit in pleasing God
- Knowing that your actions are a witness to the world of Christ’s love
The third bullet is the most important. In today’s world, many people no longer believe in God or the church. Many young people believe the Bible is not true or it is full of errors. Furthermore, they believe that God is a myth, and the Devil is a fairy tale. More people follow a spiritual path to enlightenment rather than faith to God. Trusting what is written or heard is not reliable. Therefore, many people no longer believe what is preached from the pulpit either. The only thing that can be trusted is something seen with your own eyes. To bring someone to a saving knowledge of Christ, you must get personal. So, if you are a believer, it’s your duty to get up on your feet and get your hands dirty (figuratively speaking). You can’t save people by writing a digital check; you must do it face-to-face.
