I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com- and read today's blog. What if you had to make the lists I write about? Would it make you see your job in a different light? Please post comment here.
Joan, very interesting and I did just this when my son was killed in FL. I thought I was going to have to go down (fortunately, I did not). First, I took one day and wrote down everything I did; the second day, I added anything not on the first day; and did this for a week. It was immensely time consuming, then I'd wake up during the night and think of something that doesn't happen everyday - and have to add it to the list. It's almost an impossibility. But, now I do have a "list" which would be of help to anyone coming in to stay with him if I were gone. Granted, it's a long list, and that person would probably not remember all of it, but it would be helpful. My second list was contact information, doctors, family, etc. That wasn't quite so hard. Third list was household things: electrical, plumbing, telephone, TV and who to contact. The lists just go on and on.....
Joan, What a coincidence. Today I went to the doctor because my ankle is swollen & my leg is red & hurts when you touch it. I have varicose veins & I have had the lazar procedure to help my circulation. My doctor took one look at my leg & told me that it is possible that I have phlebitis & he wanted me to go to the emergency room to get an ultrasound of my leg to see what’s going on. Before I went to the Dr. I took my DH to my daughter’s house & told him that I had to go to work for a while. He didn’t mind going to her house. Well after I left the Dr.’s office I didn’t know what to do. I knew that I had to call my daughter to tell her that I was on my way to the emergency room & that it was possible that I might have to stay the night. That got me to thinking …….what would DH do if I wasn’t there at night? Could he stay at one of my daughter’s houses? Could they handle him? The good news is that my vein problem was only superficial & I didn’t have to spend the night. So when I went to my daughter’s house to get DH she brought up the fact that we have to come up with a plan for DH if something would happen to me. I guess it takes something like this to wake us up to reality. Hopefully my daughters & I can come up with something
Joan - you might want to check with your pharmacy. Some will prepackage the pills for each day, and when are to be given. Of course his diabetic meds can't be included but the rest could be prepackage and that would save you a lot of time. It did not cost my sister that much - she had it done when he went into foster care for two months.
Joan, while reading the blog for today and people commenting on how their pain can be horrible at home but have very little when with others. Made me think about you making the list of all that you do for Sid, that he needs done for him and him not wanting to do anything. If approached right, while you are recuperating he just may not be so demanding on your helpers. That would be so good for them and you. but then again he may refuse help from others thinking you are there so you can do it.