Tag: health care

The Way It Is

CAREGIVING: This afternoon Jennifer from Greater Springfield Senior Services (GSSSI) visited to talk about how things were going and  to line up more help for Kathy. I had just hung up the phone with Louis & Clark, the medical supply firm that had provided the transport chair. They were having trouble getting reimbursed from Health New England (Kathy’s Medicare Advantage insurance)… Read more →

Help, Help Me Jennifer

CAREGIVING: I remember back when Kathy was getting help from the VNA and health aides from the two agencies, I joked that “The cavalry had arrived.” I was worried about parking logistics during the winter. Should I finally get a snow blower? Should I park my car at the neighbor’s house? At the beginning, we had two nursing visits a… Read more →

The Dentist

CAREGIVING: Kathy has been due to go to the dentist for a while. Her last appointment was in March and they found two fillings that needed to be replaced. The estimate was $600 dollars but when the appointment came there was no way Kathy could keep still long enough to have anything done so I postponed it for a few… Read more →

Crappy Sunday

CAREGIVING: It was a crappy Sunday, in a manner of speaking. I had been feeling crappy (stomach wise) and just felt like relaxing for a change, when I woke up. So I let Kathy sleep a bit too long and she had a little accident. She felt bad. I felt worse because, well, it could have been avoided. So I… Read more →

A Creative Mammogram

CAREGIVING:  I went to my first mammogram today. Well Kathy went for a mammogram, but I was there to help, dressed in lead. I’m not really sure why a radiology office would not be prepared for women in wheelchairs. Women still need mammograms.  Because we didn’t have a chair with dropping arm rests, it was almost a wasted trip. You… Read more →

Time Flies

CAREGIVING: It seems like another week has slipped by but maybe that’s a good thing. No major calamities but there is always stuff to work on. I installed another grab bar in the living room. And I put away the rest of the Christmas stuff. One important thing is I’ll be adjusting Kathy’s meds this week. I always keep a… Read more →

Out in the cold

CAREGIVING:  As expected our services from the VNA stopped this week. Melissa’s last visit came Tuesday morning when she gave Kathy her shower and Brooke came that afternoon. Next week I’ll call Greater Springfield Seniors to see if we can get more help. I’m just not sure what will help the most. I’ve been a little overwhelmed by everything lately,… Read more →