CAREGIVING: My last post (about Kathy collapsing in the basement) received a lot of attention from my friends on Facebook and I wanted to thank anyone who reads these things. I have been writing these posts as a diary to help me remember one day, or one week, from the next. I’m grateful for all the support I have. Thanks.… Read more →
Category: Caregiving
A Close Call
CAREGIVING: Tonight was about as rough as they’ve come. (So far.) Kathy is in bed with her clothes still on. But we are fortunate we got her there and didn’t need an ambulance or the police. Today we had our annual eye checkups at Pioneer Valley Eye Associates. We have been going to that office at Holyoke Medical Center for years.… Read more →
A Caregiver Cam
CAREGIVING: This week I bought a caregiver cam. That’s what I am calling it, anyway. Everybody is spying on everybody. A musician friend gave me an Amazon gift card and in addition to some pajama bottoms for Kathy and some Oral-B toothbrush heads, I ordered an inexpensive internet camera. It is like a web cam except that it works with… Read more →
Shop til I drop
CAREGIVING: Trying to do grocery shopping on Sunday was hopeless. Kathy was a zombie for some reason. Some days are like that. (Hell, I’m like that some days.) It could have been the new meds which I was hoping would help with the shaking in her hands. (No improvement, so far.) But basically she woke up Sunday morning. I helped… Read more →
Going to the Doctor // a Visit from the Wrong Aide
CAREGIVING: Thursday morning, Kathy had a follow-up visit with Dr. Dourantes, her primary doc. This was the first time in a week or so that Kathy had been out because of all the snow. I still had the car parked down the street. I went and got the car. Getting her and her chair into the car was a challenge… Read more →
If It’s Wednesday This Must Be…
CAREGIVING: I have actually been trying to write a song but this will be a tale about health aides. The word tale slipped out there but I think I’ll leave it since it beats me how all this state health assistance works. I keep thinking I understand the process and the terminology and rules but I only know what I… Read more →
Sleeping in the Dining Room
LIFE & CAREGIVING: I’ve had some photos of how I adapted the dining room into a safe bedroom for Kathy and I thought I would share them. Once it was clear that Kathy had Huntington’s I knew that I would have to start making adaptations like more hand rails and things. As she started getting more and more unsteady on… Read more →