There’s never a lack of activity around the home that Diane shares with her 92-year-old mother, Margarine. That’s because while Diane is a daughter and full-time caregiver for her mom, she’s also a grandma and part-time caregiver for her two young grandchildren.
“The kids keep her stimulated,” Diane said of her mom, who keeps a constant eye on the antics of the two preschoolers.
Margarine has Alzheimer’s, but Diane said it’s not her mom who suffers most from the disease.
“Her Alzheimer’s hurts me more than it hurts her,” Diane said.
It’s hard to see her mom unable to perform simple tasks or enjoy a conversation. Sometimes, it’s even difficult for her to recognize her own daughter. But Margarine’s great grandchildren keep things lively, Diane said, and offer her mom something to do other than watch television or play with her fidget blanket.
Margarine receives a hot meal from Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels every weekday. Diane said the service leaves her with a little more time each day to enjoy both her mom and her grandchildren.
“The food arrives warm and fresh. It’s one thing I don’t have to worry about,” she said.
By letting Meals on Wheels do the cooking for her mom, Diane has a little more time to be a daughter and a grandma.