Dear Caregiving Friends and Family,
When I was eight years old, my mother was shot by her boyfriend. I was standing next to her. He wanted the keys to her car after she had worked all night at the hospital. She was a nursing assistant. She told him, No. He reached into his black jacket pocket and shot her in the stomach. I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen cloth, and dabbed her stomach. My mom told me to get my sister, and we rushed and got into the car. My mom drove herself to the hospital, running all the red lights. The ride to the hospital felt like a long one. I was in the back seat, hanging over her while she was driving, wetting her mouth with the same kitchen cloth I had in my hand because I noticed her lips were looking parched.
I can't recall every traumatizing detail, but the next thing I can remember is my sister and I sitting in chairs in the hospital. I can remember getting up and down, asking the nurse, Is my momma gonna be alright? They never answered. I can only remember being at a relative's house. My mom had to have abdomen surgery and I can remember she came home with colostomy. I helped to take of her and would hold the colostomy bag while she would change her bag. I would help her to empty it. I can still see her sitting at the table in a pink robe. My mom's boyfriend never served any time for this violence.
Domestic violence and crimes against older adults are increasing. Can I count on you to say no to violence against the vulnerable, women, children, caregivers, and older adults? As someone who loves children, the mission of Caregiving International is to teach families, schools, and communities how to care for older adults. I believe early exposure to caregiving will yield positive results in the future. Please support the cause as pain can be used to change the world.
Clarissa Fells Smith
Contact Us
Clarissa Fells Smith, Ph.D., MA, OTR/L, CAPS, has been a licensed and practicing occupational therapist in nursing homes and geriatric facilities for almost four decades. Working with caregiving families of all ages is her life's work. Her mission is to improve the quality of life for caregiving families by empowering, educating, and equipping them with the necessary information, resources, and support.
She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Liberty University. She has published over 250 articles on geriatric rehabilitation in Advance Magazine under her column, 'Geriatrics Journal.' She is the author of The Caregiving Kids Series TM and caregiving booklets, which combine over 50 titles.
Clarissa Fells Smith has reached communities with her show, The Caregiving Doctor Show, which airs on TV and radio and educates families and provides resources for aging parents.
OUR MISSION
Caregiving International is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that benefits older adults and children by creating a culture of honor, respect, and love that ripples through families, schools, and communities. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and support for families and caregivers caring for the elderly in crisis. We help families solve problems of unsafe housing while seeking to aid them aging in place. We advocate for elder abuse prevention while providing a national school curriculum administration that fosters honor and respect for self, others, and an aging population.