Former ICU Nurse: Family Caregiver Support Is In Infant State
By Jim Parker
Former intensive care unit and home health nurse Lana Wilhelm has founded an organization to aid family caregivers of seriously ill loved ones, particularly those who have suffered a stroke.
After 40 years in nursing, Wilhelm’s life was transformed in 2021 when her husband Rick suffered a stroke. All of a sudden, she was a 24-hour caregiver in her home as well as a professional nurse. She was instantly struck by the differences in providing those modes of care and how impactful such illnesses are on the patient’s family.
In response to the lack of available resources for caregivers, Wilhelm established the Stroke Caregiver Connection to provide additional support. Initially focused on families affected by stroke, the organization has since branched out to include those who have experienced other types of adverse health events.
Hospice News sat down with Wilhelm to discuss her work and the challenges families face while providing care in the home.
