JOAN’S BLOG – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 – ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME

As you may have noticed, my blogs have been few and far between this month. Besides stifling heat, humidity, and the weekly threat of hurricanes, September has brought me a case of the Shingles, the news that the Assisted Living can no longer handle my father’s needs and I must find a nursing home for him, the drastic decline in my AD husband’s physical abilities, a recent notice of more mental decline, and enough stress to bring down an army. There has certainly been enough material for blogs, just lack of time to write them.

With all that has been going on in my life, you may wonder, as I often do, why I am not in a padded cell. I suppose Zoloft and Xanaax help, but I have learned one lesson that is helping me make it through. We often talk about how AD forces us to live one day at a time. Handle the problem of that day; don’t second guess the day before; don’t worry about the next day; just concentrate on today.  In my current situation, when problems are being thrown at me faster than a 90 mile an hour fast ball, I have learned to expand the “one day at a time” lesson to “ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME.”  PRIORTIZE as they do in the Emergency Room. The most critical gets the attention first. Finish that problem and then go to the next.

Currently, my emotions related to my husband’s physical decline and “sooner rather than later” placement; my frustration at his mental decline; my physical and mental health; my exercise schedule; and my financial problems, all must be placed on the back burner, as my father’s living situation is top priority. I need to find a nursing home that he can afford and will meet his physical needs ASAP.

Once my father is settled, I will tackle the next ONE PROBLEM, which will be getting Sid’s physical and mental problems thoroughly assessed and get advice from the doctors, care managers, and social workers as to how to proceed.

When Sid’s situation is settled, I will tackle the next ONE PROBLEM, which is to see a therapist to deal with the emotions I have been suppressing in order to solve the more immediate problems. 

One day at a time; one problem at a time. This is the only way I can imagine dealing with all of these issues. Prioritize and solve ONE problem at a time.

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The Alzheimer Spouse LLC
2011 All Rights Reserved
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