Working Together To Make It Work

Wednesday, 28 March 2007

After a week of alternating who's sleeping out on the living room couch with Dad during the night, we've figured out some things to make our lives easier with Dad being a permanent fixture in the middle of the living room:

1) Cut a hole in the egg crate cushion on the bed, so that we can strategically place the urinal in just the right place so that it will not tip over during the night. That way, we can get a little more sleep instead of waking up a couple of times during the night to get up and pee Dad. (We tried a condom catheter, but it leaked and Dad was too anxious about sleeping with it through the night.)

2) Put a bed pad underneath him just in case.

3) Put fancy nightlights around the living room so that we don't trip over the surge protector and all of his cords from the bi-pap machine, and also one in the hallway so that we don't accidently slip and fall while walking in the middle of the night with a urinal of pee to dispose of in the bathroom.

4) Use every sofa cushion and rolled up towel, with one and two pillow options available, so that he is comfortable throughout the day, and so that his head doesn't remain cocked to the right.

5) Put daily pills into a pillbox to make it easier for dispersion.

6) Leave the extension cord outside and the hose hooked up to the hot water faucet so that it is ready for setting up the bi-pap and showering Dad on the lanai.

6) Make a handy binder with important contact numbers and range of motion pictures and descriptions of Dad's needs (ie. How to Feed Him, How to Set Up The Computer For Him, How to Set Up and Operate the Bi-Pap, etc.) for volunteers that come to help Dad throughout the day.

Jay and I work well as a team to tend to Dad's needs, and Uncle Gary has been helpful as well as he learns and helps me with Dad's routines when it comes to bathing, changing, transferring, eating, and his general idiosyncracies. Chris and I have planned to go to Kaua'i from tomorrow through Sunday for a little honeymoon getaway, and Uncle Gary has already offered to help Jay watch Dad during certain times over the next few days. Several friends have called and emailed that they will stop by and visit to watch the Final Four with Dad or bring lunch by. Our plan is to set up a website with calendars so that friends and volunteers can check the calendar and sign up for times available when they would like to visit and help Dad with his care.

Life is so much better when it's organized and you have a team that you can work together with towards the same positive cause.