Moving Forward in Spring!

Step ahead, do what works for you this spring...

We are beginning to be noticed by family and friends. The comment goes something like this, “you need to get some more help,” or “the Smith’s needed to put their loved one in a nursing home.” Both these are fine. And we have done both.

Let’s take the first statement…”you need to get some more help.”

We are very fortunate to have had Hiede with us for over 6 years. She comes 3 times a week and has become part of our family, we love her. We also have had others that need my assistance for them to help with Curly. That I find frustrating. It is one thing to train a person but another to be called in to do more work while we are paying them.

In today’s world it is almost impossible to find help. Even if their salary is average the cost of gas for them to come is prohibited. I was talking to a home health agency last night and she shared that even if you have long term care which allows people to come into your home…they cannot find workers. One client has 3 different agencies sending help, as one agency cannot give them the hours they need because of lack of employees.

The suggestions to find help were:

1. Post at the nursing, therapy schools.

2. Start spreading the word that you will train them.

3. Move to where your children are living.

4. Have a separate casita for their living arrangements.

In our case, I have posted at the nursing and therapy schools. Nothing yet.

I have started spreading the word that we will train them.

We will not be moving where our children live. Ice, snow, humidity.

I am still researching the separate casita for our back yard. Mr. Curly is not completely on board yet.

To be prepared when you need additional care, I will start visiting the assisted livings in our town. If I get sick it would be nice to know what is available for Curly while I recover. Hopefully I would have visited them to relieve me of any questions I may have. Do your homework.

As a reminder, we have done the skilled nursing for six months. We are doing the living at home now. In our case because we have experienced both, our option is to stay in our home. The reasoning behind that is I have watched aides go past Curly’s room in a skilled nursing and because of his size ignore him and he spends long periods of time in his wheelchair or bed. They ran out of medication and did not have it in stock. I had to ask why he did not get his prescription. Not having to go to another facility is a plus for me. Our home is all handicap accessible. Roll in shower, wide hallways, slanted sidewalk to get into the home. Pool lift for the pool therapy and our therapy room recently completed in the garage. The most meaningful…we are here together.

One of the ways we go forward with disabilities in Retirement…we trust God’s plan! We enjoy our morning devotions and evening prayer life together and center our life around Christ and each other. When we sit together in church on Sunday, we feel God has renewed us with strength to move ahead for another week. We had the Cantata last Sunday, it was a beautiful way to take the time to remember that this is Holy Week and prepare ourselves for Easter. There is nothing more enjoyable than sharing our faith together.

Curly's disability is going on eight years for us…how do we make it each day…not by ourselves but with God’s plan leading us.

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter!