Gaining Intel

We have been in hospice for two weeks, going into our third. Life's rhythms are different now. Five people are on the hospice team and they each have a different function and schedule. Some of the individuals shift onto and off of our team, no warning. The cast of characters involved is variable.

the nurse does several things and has authority to do much more than others on the team. The social worker is behind the scenes and works with the county to gain caregiver hours paid for by the county. The chaplain visits every other week and attends to both the patient and caregiver. The personal aide does the shaving, shampooing, showering and personal support services. She even helped us get a podiatrist to come to the house to clip toenails. At our ages we can't see or do the clipping without danger of blood loss! Rocky is also a diabetic and foot infections for forbidden.

The new caregivers will help me with cleaning the house, doing the laundry and other tasks needing to be done. Meanwhile I continue to take naps when I can.

Nighttime sleep schedules are not a given. Rocky needs a wheelchair ride to the bathroom a couple of times during the night. That makes for a lot of interrupted sleep. No wonder the naps are so important.

The ladies supporting the hospice crocheted a lap robe for Rocky. It is beautiful and has already been useful. The ladies at church have crocheted a shawl for Rocky while sitting up in a chair. Beautiful shawl. Colors and workmanship are excellent. I know this will be a permanent feature of our home going forward.

Meanwhile family have cleaned the house, brought us food, supplied takeout meals and generally cheered us on. The amount of neighbors, friends and family involved in our enterprise is surprising. Thank God for each and every one of them.

Muddling along are the two residents, one a patient, the other a confused caregiver. It is what it is but if you let go of the details and worries our time together is much more pleasant.

So much to learn. So much to experience. All expands our life. The richness is unvelievable.

April 10, 2023


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