An AAC Testimonial: Ann's Story

My role as caregiver for my parents came on suddenly and lasted six years. One day, my parents were living independently, and although my dad was managing chronic health issues, they were doing okay together.  Then, without warning, everything changed. A simple cold led to serious health complications for my mom, and overnight, I became fully responsible for both of them while they lived three hours away.

After my mom passed, my greatest disappointment was my inability to bring my dad closer to me. I quickly learned that my community did not have enough skilled care beds to meet local demand. This shortage profoundly impacted my dad, my family, and me.  For years, I made weekly three-hour trips to be with him and oversee his care in a distant facility.

I was shocked to discover how common this situation is. Many families in Champaign County are forced to place loved ones in neighboring counties just to access skilled care. I placed my dad on a waiting list at a facility nearby.  After six months on that waitlist, my dad died. He passed on the weekend when I was home with my husband. Because my dad was still so far away, I couldn’t reach him in time. Not being there continues to haunt me. If he’d been in a facility in Champaign, I could have been there in minutes.

Families across our community face this same reality and often say, “someone should do something about this.” Advocates for Aging Care, a grassroots organization, is that someone. I now volunteer with them to help improve access to care for seniors, and to ease the burden on families like mine in Champaign County.