Ninety-year-old Eugene Machlin, recognized as The Caregiver’s Voice Caregiver of the Month, is the primary caregiver for his eighty-four-year-old wife who is paralyzed and in a wheelchair following a stroke eight years ago.
Never too old to care
According to his daughter Gia Machlin, Eugene:
- lifts his wife out of her chair,
- takes her to the bathroom,
- gets her dressed,
- gets her ready for bed, or
- prepares her breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Machlins benefit from an in-home aide a few hours each day. Eugene still provides most of the daily care.
Edda and Gene Machlin Celebrate 51 Years
Edda and Gene met in New York City over a half century ago after Gene’s first wife died from an illness.
Edda had recently immigrated to the U.S. from Italy after surviving the horrors of WWII as a Jew in Europe.
Together they raised Gene’s son, Chet, and had two children together–Rona and Gia where they lived in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.
Gene taught Materials Science at Columbia University and Edda wrote cookbooks and lectured about Italian Jews.
After forty-two years of marriage, Edda suffered a major stroke and lost almost all her motor function on the left side of her body. They sold their home and moved to an apartment in New York City to enter the next phase of their lives.
Gene has been by Edda’s side for the past nine years taking care of all of his wife’s needs.
He is the most devoted, kind, loving, caring husband
one could ever have.
Returns as Caregiver after Hospitalization
Gene and Edda Machlin seen here with their grandchildren Talia and Noah will celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary in May
Last summer, Gene was hospitalized with a double-kidney infection and his daughters and their aide, Sondra, pitched in to help Edda while he was sick.
After only a month of recovery, Gene insisted on going back to doing everything himself for Edda.
They value their independence and time alone together and have found a way to make it work.
- –Details provided by the Machlin’s daughter Gia Machlin.
The Caregiver’s Voice recognizes caregivers–the silent heroes who provide comfort and care to our loved ones.
Outside the world of caregivers, few know the struggles and sacrifices millions of caregivers worldwide make to care for an adult with brain impairment resulting from dementia, (e.g., Alzheimer’s), cancer treatment, stroke, or trauma.
It’s time to put faces on these caregivers.
It’s time to recognize CAREGIVERS…
- who exhibit understanding, empathy, comforting, and kindness.
- to remind us of what constitutes quality care.
- to add a little fun through a sense of humor.
- to help raise awareness of what caregivers endure to provide quality care.
Nominations are open to family caregivers AND professionals.
Nominations close at midnight on the 20th of each month.
Family, friends, and professionals are invited to nominate for this recognition. Self-nominations are also welcome.
Please click on Nominate TCV’s Caregiver of the Month.
Brenda Avadian, MA
TheCaregiversVoice.com
©2011
Article may be reprinted or excerpted. Must link to: TheCaregiversVoice.com
