OT: Well Dad has been back home for almost a week now, long enough to come up with a schedule based on his current condition, roughly it goes like this…

Note: All times are appoximate only, Nurse visits, social worker visits, Physical therapist visits, and bathing aide visits will cause delays.

9:00-9:15am—Refill Dad’s water glass and pitcher with water and ice.
9:15-9:30am—Give Dad Levoxyl and Tobradex eyedrops, check Dad’s overnight fasting blood sugar level.
9:30-9:45am—Fill Dad’s medication cups;
Lasix, Flomax, and Colace in morning cup.
Potassium in afternoon cup.
Nexium and Pravastatin in evening cup.
10:00-10:30am—Clean Dad’s front and rear, apply moisture barrier, apply hemorrhoidal ointment, change bed pad, change hospital gown.
10:30-11:00am—Feed dad breakfast.
11:15-11:30am—Assist Dad with tooth brushing.
11:30-11:45am—Give Dad morning Medications, (Lasix, Flomax, Colace).
11:45-12:00pm—Refill Dad’s water glass and pitcher with water and ice.
12:00-12:15pm—Check Dad’s front and rear; clean, apply moisture barrier, hemorrhoidal cream, and also change pad if needed.
12:15-12:30pm—Give Dad Milk of Magnesia dose.

“Free Time:” Do laundry, dishes, vacuum, clean kitchen/bathroom, etc…

1:30-1:45pm—Apply Tobradex eyedrops.
1:45-2:00pm—Give Dad an Ensure supplement drink in glass with Miralax dose mixed in.

“Free Time:” (See above)

2:45-3:00pm—Refill Dad’s water glass and pitcher with water and ice.
3:00-3:30pm—Feed Dad Lunch
3:30-4:00pm—Check Dad’s front and rear; clean, apply moisture barrier, hemorrhoidal cream, and also change pad if needed.
4:00-4:15pm—Give Dad Potassium dose.

“Free Time:” (See above)

5:30-5:45pm— Apply Tobradex eye drops.
5:45-6:00pm—Refill Dad’s water glass and pitcher with water and ice.

“Free Time:” (See above)

7:00-7:30pm—Check Dad’s front and rear; clean, apply moisture barrier, hemorrhoidal cream, change pad and remake bed completely.
7:30-7:45pm—Give Dad evening medications, (Nexium, Pravastatin).
7:45-8:00pm—Feed Dad Dinner.
8:00-8:15pm—Clean Dad’s tray table, get rid of Newspapers and trash.
8:15-8:30pm—Assist Dad with tooth brushing.

“Free Time:” (See above)

10:15-10:30pm—Refill Dad’s water glass and pitcher with water and ice.
10:30-10:45pm—Check Dad’s blood sugar level and give Lantus insulin injection, apply Tobradex eye drops.
10:45-11:00pm—Check Dad’s front and rear; clean, apply moisture barrier, hemorrhoidal cream, and also change pad if needed.

GO TO SLEEP!

I wake up completely exhausted every morning still, I’m starting to understand why all the naysayers were telling me it was too much work for one person. Still, I’ve been taking care of Dad (and also mom before she passed) for quite a while now. Every time before when I thought I had reached my limit on patience or endurance I still always found a way to make it through to the next day, and things (or maybe just my outlook) got better.

Besides, it actually is getting easier now that I have a plan/schedule for getting through the day and not making it up as I go along. I hired some help in the evenings too, so maybe, just maybe, I can make this work for as long as I need to…