Are you prepared? I was in an accident and can not drive for quite awhile. I cannot do much for myself let alone my LO. Family has pitched in to help. This would not be doable without the AL and family. Take care of yourself caregiver! "Caregivers going strong" are not invincible. Line up support just in case.
I'm glad for you though that you do have the support of family. A caregiver who is recovering from an accident or illness and has no support must be under a lot of pressure, especially as it concerns the person for whom she/he was caring.
I do feel for people who have lived "lonely" lives, by choice or circumstance and find themselves in situations where they have literally zero support.
I try to cultivate friendships with people of all ages, older than I am, younger, and keep them close and on good terms. Right now, the young mom I help is appreciating my expertise with babies, in 20 years she may be my caregiver. You never know what to plan for!
I do hope you mend soon. As I look at my 'responsibilities' - I try to remember to protect myself at all costs.
I am saddened that you were hurt so badly and pray you are 'yourself' again soon.
**When I was caring for my Dad, I sent a list of all his medications to my siblings "just in case" and one wrote me back asking why I was sending it?! So yes, I do understand and can relate.
Anjolie, you might have broken your foot? PLEASE get it looked at! I know two people who broke a foot, and it's been months of casts and boots (and, for one, surgery).
How can you take care of an elder (or is it two; your profile says you take care of your mother in your home, yet you hurt your foot on your father's walker?) with a hurt foot?
Do you have siblings? Can your parent(s) stay with them while you recuperate?
I'm having trouble with profile section. I caregiver both of my parents, both of whom have different forms of dementia. I have one brother in the same city; another a thousand miles away. My husband and I are live-in caregivers (me-Mom, husband-Dad).
After I fell over my Dad's walker, I couldn't even get anybody's attention for at least half an hour. I felt invisible and like Cinderella.
Another thing the profile disallows me stating, is that I live in Canada. Socialized medicine is, for the most part, great. Until you need to see a specialist...or to bring in respite care. The government says, wait in line.
As to my brother taking our parents in, I'm stuck. Our house isn't mine yet (it's my childhood home) and both my brother and sister-in-/law work.
I'm having trouble with profile section. I caregiver both of my parents, both of whom have different forms of dementia. I have one brother in the same city; another a thousand miles away. My husband and I are live-in caregivers (me-Mom, husband-Dad).
After I fell over my Dad's walker, I couldn't even get anybody's attention for at least half an hour. I felt invisible and like Cinderella.
Another thing the profile disallows me stating, is that I live in Canada. Socialized medicine is, for the most part, great. Until you need to see a specialist...or to bring in respite care. The government says, wait in line.
As to my brother taking our parents in, I'm stuck. Our house isn't mine yet (it's my childhood home) and both my brother and sister-in-/law work.
I had worried about what to do if I got benched for some reason, who's going to deal with my very aging parents [90's] who had decided that living in a 3 story house with a lot of stairs was a super great idea, and whom refused caregivers to enter the front door.
My Mom was mainly in denial about my age, as I was also a senior. My Dad understood. And like we have all heard 1 in 3 people 65 and older will have a fall. Sure enough I did. I fell in my office parking lot had broken my upper primary arm. Oh great, now what?
Like what happened to you, I couldn't drive for many months. No way could I even shift the gears much less put the key into the starter. My parents just glared at me saying "who is going to drive us?" Of course, a couple days later Dad called as he wanted me to drive him to the barber shop. Say what??? I had rehab 3x a weeks for months on end as my right arm froze up.
Well, I have no siblings, nor did I ever had any children. No one to pass the baton to.... well, there was sig other, but he wasn't user friendly when it comes to care. So my folks just hibernated in the house for 6 months, cancelling all their doctor appointments, etc. Waiting for me to heal. I ordered groceries on-line for them. Mom wasn't all too happy.... the items "tasted funny" even thought it was a same products from inside the grocery store!!! You'd think it would be a wake-up call for them to decide to move to Independent Living. According to my Mom, nope, never, nada even though Dad was ready to book.
I hope your surgery goes well. Thank you for the timely reminder. It is true.
When my dad was alive, I would worry even when I went on vacation. I tried to pay all the bills in advance, make sure the house was stocked with food and cleaned. I even washed his car and filled it with us. I was always worried that if something happened to me, that dad had at least enough to carry him through till the siblings came to help.
I am trying my best to have my own financial house in order. As for my health, I hope I can depend on some help from my extended family. See what happens.