On Tuesday I got a phone call from our care agency because its time for our annual care review. My first reaction was - Noooo, not now! But it had to go ahead and I was terrified that OH would turn round and say he didnt want carers anymore. The carers have been a godsend to me and I couldnt cope without them. The review was organised for yesterday. Fortunately, I knew the person on the management team as she had previously been one of OHs carers before her promotion, so I doorstopped her in the porch and explained the situation before she came in and OH didnt realise that I had done this.
She asked if there were any problems with any of the carers or if I had any complaints. She then went through his care plan and asked OH if there was anything else that he wanted the carers to do, or anything that they were doing that he didnt want and my heart was in my mouth awaiting his reply. Fortunately, he only seemed to take in the first part of her question and asked if the carers could go out with him for a walk? I was surprised that this obsession had returned, but relieved that he hadnt said anything about not having carers. She said that the carers wouldnt have time during their morning visits, but if we wanted, we could have an additional slot with someone taking him out. She suggested one afternoon a week for a couple of hours and said that the obvious person which occurred to her was a male carer who is already one of his regular carers and OH knows him. This carer is absolutely great and always gets OH laughing. OH was immediately enthusiastic and the more I think about it the better the plan seems. The pair of them will have an absolute blast. I didnt know the care agency would provide this service and I have been trying to find day care that would accept him, because all he does is sit on the sofa reading and I think he needs social stimulation. The assessor said that because this carer was on holiday at the moment she would have to wait till he got back, then have a word with him, check his timetable and get back to us - probably in a couple of weeks. Several people on this thread have already suggested finding someone to take him out and this may be the answer.