What's it really like to "caregive" in your home?
Depends on the family member, family unit, resources & income
Who comes beside and "gives help"?
In the United States, you're "expected" to have Health Care paid for monthly.
Income for many has stopped. Expenses climb and build hills then mountains.
He spent 100 days almost all in Critical Intensive Care, .
He came home to a Hospital Bed.
We had "in home care" twice a week; I was responsible for caregiving on a daily basis.
It was not "unlimited". After a couple of weeks I was told there would be no more. I had to take over. Completely.
The "training" I received on wound care draining, removing, replacing was minimal.
Memories Stick Like Glue -- the bags did not.
One bag became two, then three and finally four.
They filled with liquid quickly.
He could no longer get up and take care of emptying the bags.
I had 24/7 "duties" and no one to help.
Our oldest son, who lived across the country, never came to visit and when I asked for help, he told me I didn't know how to manage and I made his father sick.
On all sides I was torn apart; my husband's Doctors kept saying my husband needed to gain weight.
They saw the bags, how they multiplied, until he could no longer do Dr visits and all they saw were an occasional report from a Nurse who came less and less frequently.
BE WARNED. YOUR MEDICAL PLAN IS YOUR LIFELINE.
Told constantly: "Your husband needs to gain weight."
That's was "Doctor's Orders" and it became the mantra on every visit which quickly ended as our "time" ran out.
Stupid me. I trusted. I listened. I believed.
They were the "experts". I trusted their "professional ability".
They knew. They had to see.
They just refused to take responsibility.
They'd cut into him, that was the beginning of the end.
A lancing that never should have been.
The Widow's Walk is unplanned and unwanted. It happens every day. It's a Sisterhood no one wants to join.