After
my musings on Ontario’s homecare system, you may be wondering how far we have
come in
adjusting
to our new lives. It has been an incredibly
hectic nearly 4 months, and a very fast learning curve. We’ve
met more new people than you can imagine, and the whole experience has been
exhausting. But on balance we’d both say
we’ve done well.
The
highlights have been the person we hired to help us in the morning, my progress
at physiotherapy, and our connections here in our local community. Our mornings are now fairly relaxed as a
result, and learning to do a slide board transfer has us both excited about the
future. We have taken advantage of all
the services we can find that will help us, even if they aren’t enough.
Meaford
has turned out to be a great little town.
There are more community breakfasts and dinners than we can keep up
with, and we have a good group of friends. There’s a Robbie Burns supper coming up we
hope to go to with some of them. Above
all, Mrs. F.G. has held it all together, doing everything from serving as
administrative secretary to the laundry.
On
the other side of the coin I have to mention the exhaustion, which we both
struggle with. Keeping track of the
appointments, prescriptions and supplies, and keeping track of phone calls has
been a real challenge. Just this morning
a caregiver apparently showed up at the door, but we were out running errands
and having coffee. No one had told us a
thing!
And
our lives have changed completely. My hobbies
of hiking, paddling and photography have gone by the board, and I can no longer
contribute much of my share to the household chores. This leaves Mrs. F.G. to pick up the
extra. As she has done that, guess what
she no longer has much time for – her favourite hobby, her sewing. As I learn to contribute more, we continue
working to find the balance.
Our
major challenge remains sorting out the assistance we need from PSW’s. We’re almost there, and have a meeting
scheduled which we hope will help. But
in the meantime I have to admit it’s a major frustration.
Never-the-less,
I think we’re over the hump of the learning curve, and understand the
challenges we face. I’m currently
finishing an application for the Direct Funding program, which would give us
the funds to hire the assistants we need ourselves directly. It appears to be best suited to the ‘younger’
disabled (yes, that includes me) who can manage the business of managing and
reporting on a budget, and hiring and firing staff.
It’s
going to be interesting to see where we stand 6 months from now.
AS I read this I do think you both are far smarter than you give yourselves credit for. You are really well organized and still seeing the big picture and the big challenges and many others can learn from that. Be patient with yourselves. You should be applauded for all that has been done in such a short time!
ReplyDeleteYou are in inspiration. - Margy
ReplyDeleteYes, it will be interesting indeed to see where you are in six months. I have no doubt you will have surmounted most of the barriers, and I will be listening and learning from you. My heart goes out to both of you. Thank you for letting me be along for the ride. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think the two of you are an amazing inspiration to so many.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you both.
I can't wait to see where you are in six months, I agree with Taber you really don't realize how far you
ReplyDeletehave come overall.
Yes, you've come a long way from when we first learned you were in a coma. As you gain strength your physical progress will come faster, how you do with getting outside help may be another matter -- but that may go very well also.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone has said you have accomplished a lot in this short period of time that you should be proud of. Many of those services were not available Twenty Years ago.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time.
The Direct Funding program sounds very promising. I get your exhaustion. Hang in there and remember 'baby steps'.
ReplyDeleteUnder the circumstances, you're doing very well.
ReplyDeleteManaging your own care and with direct funding may be the better solution. Down here, a friend and I cared for a young lady, a close friend, with dementia, and after having government funding, her husband was then given the option of direct funding. He did this, but it meant a lot more paper work for him, but a better payment for us who did the caring.It was some years ago,and ended up as 24 hour care, Finally our dear friend went into a rest home, and then a secure dementia unit. But it gave me a very good day to day realistic idea of those who care for no payment or thanks. Mrs F.G., your sewing and quilting will return, and then think of all that fabric you have stored away. Fondest greetings to you both.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly seem to have things well in hand.
ReplyDeleteYou sure have come a longe way and will do even better in the future . Good news about the direct funding.
ReplyDeleteIndeed a mountain of challenges for you both but you have already successfully climbed your way through the rocky foot hills and scaled a number of steep canyon walls on your way to the summit. Tough going for sure but you are blazing a trail for others to follow in your foot steps on their own quest for a better life.
ReplyDeleteI can add anything that others haven't already said but I salute you both for stepping up to the required challenge and hopefully over the next few months, there will be times when Mrs. F.G. can pick up some of her sewing again. You both inspire me and think of you often.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult. The shortage of PSWs is incredible. It's a difficult job, however.
ReplyDeleteWe've been dealing with my husband's prostate cancer for 5 years, now. The appointments, the tests, the driving, are draining.
Good work, both of you.
Wow! Good for you and Mrs. G. for working so hard to just get it done. I took care of my spouce for 5 years. He was a stroke victim and left side paralyzed. Mostly bedridden or wheel chair. Everyday I would rassle him out of bed---he could transfer fairly well and then into the car we'd go. I hade an Acura Integra---a small sporty car---into the hatchback would go the chair and into the car he would go. Off to visit the countryside----adventuring. We worked so hard together that we became best of friends---more so than before. When things got too much for me I would call my son in law on the ranch in Ritzville and weep on his shoulder and then all was sorta fine. He was/is a good listener. Anyway we survived and you all will to.
ReplyDeleteAttitue is good
MB
Muy interesante leerte
ReplyDeleteYour strength and perseverance wows me, sir.
ReplyDeleteTogether you make a good team. You will do just fine until Mrs FG gets sick...we have found that all goes smooth as long as I am well enough to do most things. Each year becomes harder. This week we have two appts...one is for a surgery as Far Guys port is not working. Hang in there and be patient with each other:)
ReplyDeleteas i read this...i could have written it myself at different times in my life. caring for one's self, it is a full time job and not a fun one, one we are not prepared for.
ReplyDeleteit sounds like you are doing very well learning the ropes. working together, helping each other, how wonderful to be able to show each other the love you pledged, so many years ago!!
see if you can find a few hours, to free her up, so she can sew. i think she would really appreciate it!!!!!