In less than one year, I will be on Medicare. I'm not sure exactly what that means except I think I will be paying less out of pocket for my health care insurance. I think I get to keep my GP, but I'll be paying for the "20% supplemental" insurance when purportedly, Medicare pays for 80%.
In the meantime, not long after my 64th birthday, I was summoned to "the principal's office" (Judy's workshop director) to have a meeting to discuss Judy's frequent falls. "We can't guarantee her safety, so you have to 'do something'. She can't keep coming to the Program if we can't ensure her safety."
So I co-mingle these two topics because normally, on or around my birthday (as I do on or around Judy's birthday), I schedule all the physical appointments: blood work, physical exam, mammogram, OBGYN, colonoscopy, etc. But this year, I didn't get to schedule MY appointments because I had to schedule appointments for Judy to be evaluated for frequent falls. The diagnosis for Judy was 1. the need for a walker, and 2. physical therapy for her to learn how to use the walker and learn strengthening exercises so she would not fall. So for the last 4 weeks, Judy has been going to physical therapy twice a week. With her walker. Fortunately, I was able to schedule the appointments on Mondays and Wednesdays and Kelly was willing to take her. Thank the LORD!
In addition to the physical therapy and walker, we had to address Judy's wardrobe. Judy has adopted a skirts and stockings attire, which she has worn for most of her adult life. Frequent falls and skirts with stockings doesn't quite work in a day program setting, nor for physical therapy. For the last 6 weeks or so, it's been a daily struggle (shouting match, aggravatingly miserable conversation) with my special needs sister about what she is wearing to her workshop each day. Oh, God.
Kelly took her shopping for leggings, I bought her some, but she HATES it. Before the weather changed (from HOT to cool), she acquiesced to wearing shorts for her two days of physical therapy, and "skorts" the rest of the week. Now that fall has set in, and cooler temperatures, she needs to wear slacks and she just not on board with the program.
"I 70 years old. I pick my own clothes" she told me last week.
"Okay. But if you are not appropriately dressed in the morning, then you are NOT going to the workshop and you will have to spend the day in your own room, Judy." And I suggested 2 or 3 outfits she could wear.
That did NOT go over very well. But, the next morning she had on an appropriate outfit (very cute, I might add), and everybody at the Program thought she looked darling and ooooh'd and aaaahhh'd over her outfit, but she was still pissed. This is now a daily occurrence.
So that's my new normal.
I haven't scheduled my own doctor appointments, and I dread hearing the phone ring. The only thing I could do was go outside and pull weeds. Did not require thinking - but I did feel somewhat accomplished at the end of each day. The result: I've wrenched my back out. Several days I likely was dehydrated from staying outside in the heat too long.
The stress has taken over control of my back, my neck, my vision, and my overall attitude. My new housekeeper told me one of her other clients is a professional organizer. Really? So she came last week, sent me her "quote" and is coming tomorrow to help me.
My whole world (my house inside and out) has been upside down for months, and when I woke up this morning, I decided I've had enough. I love my sister, but her happiness is not my only mission. I can't take care of her if I don't take care of myself and our world.
Today I saw a chiropractor and began my new wellness program. And tomorrow, I have a professional organizer coming to help me get my house in order.
So there you have it.
I know what needs to be done, but for the life of me, I just can't do it by myself anymore. So much for being 64.
No comments:
Post a Comment