I Used to be a Snazzy Bird, But Now I’m a Lame Duck
My Old Mother, Her Eastern European Caregivers and I
More than four million elderly people in need of care live in the German-speaking regions. In most cases, their sons and daughters assume responsibility and decide what kind of care their parents should receive.
Sigrid Tschöpe-Scheffler and her mother have decided on support by around-the-clock caregivers from Eastern Europe, an approach that is very controversial in Germany. This has allowed the mother to live at home for a long time, even when the “Black Monkey” – which is what she called the progressive dementia – later developed.
The smart, open-minded and humorous lady seized the opportunity of living with her caregivers for a personal and cultural exchange. This allowed the creation of strange and wonderful, but also sad, stories that show how even a care situation can be lively and enriching.
- Taboo topic of caregivers from Eastern Europe
- Unusual and wonderful stories of an open-minded old lady
- Appendix with reflections and evaluations of the individual care forms
