It is some time since I last posted, but when one decides to care 24/7 365 days each minuet counts.
Today it's four years since I removed my wife Jean from the NH which proved torment for both her and I.
Ther first seven years of her illness I managed by learning as the illness progressed.
The attempts to go 'home', her being late for school, picking imaginary specks from clothing and carpet. Seeing people I couldn't, afraid to walk down stairs. Finding coffee in the kettle when pouring to make tea. When looking for a pair of my V-fronts from a pack of four, found her wearing all four! stopping her driving. Double incontinent in first five years. Shortly before her accident I had to call out the police help find her, when we did it was dusk, she was in woodland holding on to a tree for dear life!
From the time of her fall which resulted in a broken arm and dislocated shoulder my life became hell. The two hospitals, respite, home, one NH then another NH all in a matter of six weeks.
At the final NH I cared for her eight hrs a day. When I saw she was giving up I sold up and bought a smaller house and took her home. By then she was very far gone, a bag of bones with pressure sores.
After all the bad experiences I decided to take full control of her care. The first six months were touch and go, four times I expected to lose her. Her teeth had not been cared for, she had mouth thrush and had to have a moist sponge on a stick to wet her mouth and had trouble with her throat.
Today she is the picture of health, though now a baby she is far easier to care for. She has all the traits of a child, yerterday when I lifted her into her chair for her lunch I went to kiss her and she opened her mouth as if to eat my nose!
I phoned that NH today to tell them my wife was doing very well thank you. I couldn't get someone who could speak English, ring a bell? all new staff! Well it is four years on.
At long last someone is interested in us, a Psychologist wishes to interview me this week, lets hope he learns how I turned things around.
It can be a little lonley at times but then I've so much going for me, like I'm fit and there's no generation gap, we both know what the '30s and 40's were like.
Wish I could show two photos of Jean, one at the NH, one a year later, they say it all. Sorry for such a long post, but then there's so much more to say. It would be nice to pass on useful tips I've learned along the way.
Hang in there fellow carers and God bless. Padraig
Today it's four years since I removed my wife Jean from the NH which proved torment for both her and I.
Ther first seven years of her illness I managed by learning as the illness progressed.
The attempts to go 'home', her being late for school, picking imaginary specks from clothing and carpet. Seeing people I couldn't, afraid to walk down stairs. Finding coffee in the kettle when pouring to make tea. When looking for a pair of my V-fronts from a pack of four, found her wearing all four! stopping her driving. Double incontinent in first five years. Shortly before her accident I had to call out the police help find her, when we did it was dusk, she was in woodland holding on to a tree for dear life!
From the time of her fall which resulted in a broken arm and dislocated shoulder my life became hell. The two hospitals, respite, home, one NH then another NH all in a matter of six weeks.
At the final NH I cared for her eight hrs a day. When I saw she was giving up I sold up and bought a smaller house and took her home. By then she was very far gone, a bag of bones with pressure sores.
After all the bad experiences I decided to take full control of her care. The first six months were touch and go, four times I expected to lose her. Her teeth had not been cared for, she had mouth thrush and had to have a moist sponge on a stick to wet her mouth and had trouble with her throat.
Today she is the picture of health, though now a baby she is far easier to care for. She has all the traits of a child, yerterday when I lifted her into her chair for her lunch I went to kiss her and she opened her mouth as if to eat my nose!
I phoned that NH today to tell them my wife was doing very well thank you. I couldn't get someone who could speak English, ring a bell? all new staff! Well it is four years on.
At long last someone is interested in us, a Psychologist wishes to interview me this week, lets hope he learns how I turned things around.
It can be a little lonley at times but then I've so much going for me, like I'm fit and there's no generation gap, we both know what the '30s and 40's were like.
Wish I could show two photos of Jean, one at the NH, one a year later, they say it all. Sorry for such a long post, but then there's so much more to say. It would be nice to pass on useful tips I've learned along the way.
Hang in there fellow carers and God bless. Padraig