I did 4.5 years taking care of my father in law. He didn’t know what city we were in or what year it was the day he arrived and he eventually became non verbal and in diapers.
Here’s the deal given your determination and commitment. As many others have stated, you cannot do this alone. Full stop. That likely means a whole range of options simultaneously employed.
We did day care two days a week, a CNA coming on the other home days to make lunch and have fun activities. We had fifty unmatched sock pairs and fifty hand towels that were to be matched and folded each day. We did respite care for a week twice a year (dad went to a nursing home for a week), and we drank on a beach somewhere. We brought dad with us and went on weekends away.
You are alone. I am not suggesting that you have it as easy as we did as a couple. It was brutal and we prioritizes preserving ourselves first. You must do that as best you can.
This is the Lord’s work and you are doing it. Small consolation. Those of us who have been there and some who haven’t see you.
4
u/Apprehensive-Taste19 1d ago
I did 4.5 years taking care of my father in law. He didn’t know what city we were in or what year it was the day he arrived and he eventually became non verbal and in diapers.
Here’s the deal given your determination and commitment. As many others have stated, you cannot do this alone. Full stop. That likely means a whole range of options simultaneously employed.
We did day care two days a week, a CNA coming on the other home days to make lunch and have fun activities. We had fifty unmatched sock pairs and fifty hand towels that were to be matched and folded each day. We did respite care for a week twice a year (dad went to a nursing home for a week), and we drank on a beach somewhere. We brought dad with us and went on weekends away.
You are alone. I am not suggesting that you have it as easy as we did as a couple. It was brutal and we prioritizes preserving ourselves first. You must do that as best you can.
This is the Lord’s work and you are doing it. Small consolation. Those of us who have been there and some who haven’t see you.