In this special COVID-19 themed caregiver spotlight episode, meet healthcare worker and family caregiver Jessica Sima. Jessica helps care for her mom with end stage liver disease and diabetes and is the guardian for her brother with developmental disabilities. Jessica’s mom recently fell and is recovering in a skilled nursing facility and her brother resides in an Illinois state-operated developmental center. Jessica shares how she made the tough decision between bringing mom home or keeping her in the skilled nursing facility. She also shares her criteria to select a nursing facility, how she is communicating with her isolated family members, and how she is managing expectations with each facility regarding her family member’s care.
Listen to the show: Caregiver Spotlight – Jessica Sima
Words of Encouragement
Each episode starts off with a few words of inspiration or motivation that is pulled from the Happy Healthy Caregiver Jar.
Links & Resources Mentioned
- Jessica lives in northwest Illinois and works from home with her daughter, her significant other, and her partner’s son. Jessica has a doctor’s work from home order because she is immunocompromised and unable to be forward facing with patients.
- Jessica’s mom, Dianne, fell just prior to the COVID-19 being locked down. She is currently recovering in a skilled nursing facility. Jessica is unable to visit her mom due to the coronavirus safety precautions.
- Jessica’s brother recently celebrated his 40th birthday. Elizabeth’s son is graduating high school in May. Related article: Celebrating Milestones While Social Distancing
- After her mom’s fall, Jessica took emergency guardianship for her younger brother, Kenn, with developmental disabilities. Kenn currently resides at the Elisabeth Ludeman Center, a state run facility serving people with developmental disabilities who have severe medical and/or behavioral needs.
- Jessica prioritizes her self-care by keeping her routine, meal prepping, cleaning, drinking water, and getting outside each day.
- Jessica and Elizabeth are both Certified Caregiving Consultants. Jessica is also a Certified Nurse Case Manager and Certified Caregiving Educator.
- All of the prompts from the lightning round segment of the show are borrowed from Elizabeth’s book Just For You: a Daily Self-Care Journal.
- Elizabeth’s personal trainer, Ashley, has been sharing upper and lower body strength workouts twice a week on her A and A Wellness Facebook Group. Past workouts remain on the page.
- Jessica’s get up and dance song is ‘Jessie’s Girl‘ by Rick Springfield.
- Find out more about Jessica’s resources and services on her site theeverydaynurse.com. Jessica is currently offering a 50% discount on all her consulting services to help family caregivers during this time.
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Favorite moments & quotes from the episode
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