kenonutty

Merv,
Wow, sounds like you DO have your hands full! To me it is especially hard if the patient is up and around, and actually ABLE to put broken glass in the sink! Its good that she can still write!

My patient now is bed bound. She can no longer remember how to walk or even hold herself in an upright position, but she can sure pack a punch!!!! And boy, can she cuss!! At 90 yrs. old she can sure dish it out!

I consider myself a Caregiver , not a servant, (as some people tend to treat us .)... I spend what time is necessary with my patient, to make them comfortable, to see to their needs, and to try and make them as happy as I can, and I also clean the house, do the laundry and prepare all the meals...If more time is required with her, then some of the housework may not get done, as in my opinion...she comes first...I make this clear to the family before I even start a job... If the patient doesn't sleep at nite...I sleep when she sleeps!

But, since I actually live with them for 7 days, I have more time to do those things. You on the other hand dont have that much time, working just the few hours , it would be terribly difficult to get everything done that needs to be done. If you have the time...read...if not, then I would tell her "pick what you want, the dishes done or for me to read what you have written" You can only spread yourself so far ya know!!

My sister-in-law does this work also, and she had a patient that was a drinker. Drank Bloody Mary's every day until she was drunk... then she would get up to walk, which she was wobbly with , without the alcohol, and fall ...then the fire dept would have to be called out to get her up ! So, out of fear that the lady would break a hip or something, she poured over 1/2 of the vodka out, replaced it with water, and then when she had to make the drink for her..she would ask...how much vodka do you want in here? She would say when, and never knew the difference!! Pretty clever I thought!
I intend to keep that little trick in case I ever get a drinker!! Dont know if it is possible with yours or not...but keep it in your bag of tricks for "just in case " some day!! It's probably not nice to do that, but when you have to watch out after someone else's well being, sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do!!

It's probably a good thing you dont have to stay 24/7 with her, and from the sounds of it...its one of those jobs that I couldnt either! I have had some that I had to go to 3 and 4 days because it was so difficult...either they were violent, or they NEVER slept!

I guess we should be thankful that we are able to do what we do, and ask God to give us the strength to keep on keeping on! and to have empathy for the ones we take care of.. I really take a look sometimes and think....dang...I sure don't want to get this way! Sure is an eye opener huh?

Stay well !!