Life as a care giver is frustrating most of the time and in a way rewarding. Frustrating because dealing with 2 individuals that each need different levels of care means twice the work and twice the worry. Dividing time between them becomes a juggling act and an issue of time management. Vacation time has to be planned months in advance and finding someone who can look out for them while your away can be a challenge. Life is not your own any more. It's rewarding because when things go according to plan you can feel good about yourself and that you're doing something good for someone else.
The most important part of being a care giver is to take time to care for your needs. If you don't look after yourself you may need to find a care giver for yourself.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
It must be SPRING!
The cold grip known as winter, that has held us hostage for several months now is finally losing it's grip. By hostage I am referring to those of us that don't really like winters and would rather summer year round. I am such a person. I am never so glad to see the sun for more than 6 hours a day than I am this time of year. Bring on the long, lazy days and nights of summer and everything that comes with it. Most of all I miss riding and sitting outside. Taking my bike on short or long trips and feel the wind in my face and watch the doted center line blur into one continuous line. Unlike last summer I don't have a bike trip planned for this summer. Last summer was great 10 days of hard riding, 7050+ km! This is the way I travel when I'm alone even when in a car. The first few days are hard riding/driving to my first destination. Relax for a few days then hard again to my next stop. This may not sound to great for most but I just like to hit the road and ride or drive. I find it relaxing. Maybe I should have been a truck driver! But, back to spring talk.
Spring is in the air and last nights rain was refreshing. Bikers have been out for the past few weeks so it's time to turn my thoughts to getting my bike on the road. But with that said, it's also time to do a spring clean. This year I have 2 places to clean. One to get ready to sell and the other to get ready to move in. This is also the time of year that I must really focus on the few things I love to do as well. One is pottery and the one I must focus on. Hand made on a wheel or hand built from slabs or a combo of both. No mold made pieces here. I have a large wood fired kiln that I have to fill and fire before June. At least that is my plan. With working full time and being a caregiver to my parents, my energy level is pretty low. I am hoping that my returning to Kung Fu will help me focus on what I love to do. I have also been thinking of pulling the plug at work and doing my pottery full time. But with the economic times the way they are I think I'd need to find a job to supplement my income. Oh well it will all come out in the end one way or another. There are pots to be made and houses to clean and a bike that is calling . . .
Spring is in the air and last nights rain was refreshing. Bikers have been out for the past few weeks so it's time to turn my thoughts to getting my bike on the road. But with that said, it's also time to do a spring clean. This year I have 2 places to clean. One to get ready to sell and the other to get ready to move in. This is also the time of year that I must really focus on the few things I love to do as well. One is pottery and the one I must focus on. Hand made on a wheel or hand built from slabs or a combo of both. No mold made pieces here. I have a large wood fired kiln that I have to fill and fire before June. At least that is my plan. With working full time and being a caregiver to my parents, my energy level is pretty low. I am hoping that my returning to Kung Fu will help me focus on what I love to do. I have also been thinking of pulling the plug at work and doing my pottery full time. But with the economic times the way they are I think I'd need to find a job to supplement my income. Oh well it will all come out in the end one way or another. There are pots to be made and houses to clean and a bike that is calling . . .
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Elders and Separation
With an aging population, and much like everything else that is healthcare related, there is a shortage of care facilities for seniors. Especially facilities where couples can live out their lives together no matter what level of care is needed. The government seems to think that having people stay in their own home is the answer. This is great for people or couples that need minimal care, where a daily visit from a home care nurse is all that is needed, or who can afford to hire a full time nurse. There also needs to be the support of family too. But what about couples where one needs extended care and can not remain at home and the other just needs minimal care but relies on others for transportation. Can they stay in there own home? No, they must find a care facility and be put on a waiting list.
The only available solution today is that one spouse goes into a care facility and the other either remains in their home or goes to a lodge. This is what I am facing as a caregiver to my parents. After almost 60 years of being together they find themselves forced into separation. There are no facilities in the area or the province for that matter, where they can share a room and each get the level of care they need. In a nursing home there are different levels of care anyway so what difference would it make if a couple shared a room where one spouse were still able to look after most of their own needs and the other might need extended care. Is it not the goal to have a good quality of life for the elderly in these facilities. I think it's outrageous that seniors are separated because one may have an illness that requires extended care yet the other spouse does not. Why can't couples who want to be together stay together in the same room and facility. Sure there are facilities where they can be in the same building but not the same room. This to me is a cruel punishment and not a life that has quality.
What will it be like when the baby boomers come to an age where they will need care. What is really lacking in this province are facilities that allow couples to stay together. To live out their later years with dignity and together.
The only available solution today is that one spouse goes into a care facility and the other either remains in their home or goes to a lodge. This is what I am facing as a caregiver to my parents. After almost 60 years of being together they find themselves forced into separation. There are no facilities in the area or the province for that matter, where they can share a room and each get the level of care they need. In a nursing home there are different levels of care anyway so what difference would it make if a couple shared a room where one spouse were still able to look after most of their own needs and the other might need extended care. Is it not the goal to have a good quality of life for the elderly in these facilities. I think it's outrageous that seniors are separated because one may have an illness that requires extended care yet the other spouse does not. Why can't couples who want to be together stay together in the same room and facility. Sure there are facilities where they can be in the same building but not the same room. This to me is a cruel punishment and not a life that has quality.
What will it be like when the baby boomers come to an age where they will need care. What is really lacking in this province are facilities that allow couples to stay together. To live out their later years with dignity and together.
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