I hope you got to enjoy your day doing *your* thing ...... you definitely deserve it !
I too am worn out from what I call *Alzheimer Consumption* and would just LOVE one whole day of not having to think, eat and drink AZ. I know I'll be very sad and unhappy when that day comes, and come it will, but even if we could find a little moderation in this journey it would be good.
Bar-bra, I think real respite is having time to go and do something else. I've had a few times when my neighbors arranged it for me, and the first time it happened, the first time I knew he was safe with someone else and I was free to do whatever I wanted, it felt so very odd. In my case my freedom has never lasted more than a couple of hours, but I do think we all need that time.
I'm getting 6 hours on Feb. 8. Respite is okayed, ride arranged and tickets reserved. My brother and his son are performing in "Fiddler on the Roof" with a small Community Theatre group. Out of 6 perfornmance, they have the Leads in 3 of them. He's Tevy and his son plays the son. CAN NOT WAIT!
DH will be fine--antsy but fine. I know the care person and so does he. Because I am his 'security blanket' it's fine if I stay home when someone takes him away, but he prefers to have me home (or with him) so he KNOWS I'm safe. Within a short time after we leave He'll ask if we're there yet. He'll ask how long the play will last. Does the cargiver think we're on the wy home yet? Think young child on a 1hour car trip to Grandma's. I will already have told him when we're leaving and will arrive there; when the play starts, about when it ends, and when I'll be home by. I also will tell him that I'll call when we're on the way.
On February 7, I am participating in an all-day Women's Event at our church. Lots of workshops, classes, etc. I am teaching a class as well.
Our son is coming over to visit DH. They are going out to breakfast, Home Depot, etc. and then they are going to hang some new wide white wooden blinds in my new kitchen.
Yeah. Can't wait until February 7. I hope I'm not wishing my life away here.
My sister put her husband in respite care for two weeks in Dec. 2007, and slept the whole 2 weeks. She made it over to see him about once a week. When she called to check on him, the nurses at the VA told her to not come, he was fine. She was to stay home and rest. It was needed cause he died 3 weeks after coming home. She needed the sleep cause she was so drained from taking care of a man that was bedridden and totally dependent on her. She was stronger to deal with his death due to those two weeks of rest.
So, do not forget yourselves. Get time off, a week if you can (I know that cost money which even I would not be able to afford), above all take what time you can get. You deserve it.
Mawzy, enjoy your day! You deserve it! I can't wait for February 7th either. We leave on the 8th for Miami to go on the caregiver cruise! We'll both have to write about our time away from home. This will be my first vacation in two years. I am so looking forward to it!