Читать книгу NORMAL Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Barb BSL Owen - Страница 22

In my search for competent help, I spent hours conducting interviews with agencies as well as self-employed individuals before hiring a variety of people to assist my parents. After settling on a tentative caregiving schedule, the holidays were upon us, so I waited from Thanksgiving until after New Year’s Day before implementing the system of retired medical (former nurses) and non-medical (companionship/helpers) personnel.

As new people assumed some of my mom’s responsibilities, she felt relieved. Although no one approached tasks the way she did, Mom realized how much easier it was for her to have their help. She also enjoyed a side benefit of developing relationships with the staff of caregivers, particularly the college students whom she liked to mother. She learned about their families, what they were studying in school, their hobbies and anything else she could think of. In turn, they doted on her and tried very hard to do things Mom’s way.

Dad tolerated the intrusion into their privacy for the sake of my mom and he was glad when each helper’s shift was over and the two of them could be alone again.

Most of the time Dad was capable of managing his daily activities by himself. He kept exercising several times each week and continued dealing with their financial affairs, just as he had always done.

A few weeks after the new routine began, Dad decided that I was to be the designated person to take over when he was no longer able. Dad, still well aware of his surroundings, contacted his attorney and asked him to draw up the necessary paperwork. Once the papers were in my dad’s possession, he told me of his plan—one that I wasn’t at all enthusiastic about. Dad was insistent, and so to pacify him, I eventually agreed, never imagining the implications of his decision.

Within a few weeks of starting the new schedule of helpers for my parents, I realized that I had hired too many caregivers. I made adjustments several times and everything remained fairly constant for a while. We all enjoyed a false sense of security allowing me to believe that everything was under control.

Everything is tentative,

but you have to start somewhere...

…