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View Full Version : You might be a caregiver if...




SandyC
04-23-2009, 06:52 PM
1. Your new hobby is canceling credit cards, writing letters to collection agencies and canceling numerous magazine subscriptions.

2. You spend 1/3 of vacation time backtracking as you look for eyeglasses, purse, hat, gloves and sweaters.

3. You place most of the bills in a folder labeled, "I will think about this tomorrow."

4. Going out to eat is a Big Mac or a Whooper.

5. Your hands are missing fingers because he/she regularly "bites the hand that feeds him/her."

6. An outing consists of going to get the mail.

7. You lobby your Congressional Rep. to have more hours added to the clock.

8. Taking care of yourself means...?

9. Coffee, cola, and aspirin are food groups.

10. You never sort your loved ones socks because they seem to like to wear them mismatched.

11. Your loved one's wardrobe consists of sweats, a bathrobe, and socks, and for informal wear....

12. Your lawn has been declared a wildlife refuge.

13. The pattern on the hood of your car is actually 2 year old cat paw prints.

14. Your house has more cobwebs than a 1950's 'B' horror movie.

15. Your friends know to call you six months in advance before they visit to give you time to clean up.

16. At the mention of Social Security, you snarl, foam at the mouth and wish you had purchased that AK-47 when you could have afforded it.

17. Someone mentions neurologists, and you snarl, foam at the mouth and wish you had purchased that AK-47.

18. Fast food means shoveling in leftover tuna noodle surprise by the cold light of the fridge after the chores are done well past 10pm.

19. When someone mentions illness, by the time you've finished speaking they mistake you for a neurologist.

20. Crying is just another task that goes on your to do list.

21. You can spot your loved one having a bad day, within 15 seconds, from 50 meters, in the dark, while its raining, with your back turned.

22. You often know more about how your loved one is doing than they do.

30. The first place you look when your loved one has misplaced their shoes is the fridge.

31. You've got the new, 24 hour, $19.99 a month unlimited Access to God Prayer Plan, and they are now telling you your limit has been reached.

32. Losing track of time, the day of the week, the year and your marbles seems normal.

33. Vacations are what you take just before you fall asleep.

34. You can spot an uncaring physician from 20 feet even before they open their mouths.

35. When you and your loved one find a caring and understanding physician you first weep uncontrollably then fall on your knees and worship.

36. When you see a person on the news who has had a blow to the head, you can instantly recognize the signs of a injury, while mouthing the newscaster's statement from the doctors, "...and the doctors say it was only a concussion and he should be as good as new..."

37. Family get-togethers are when you go on-line to be with the people who understand.

38. The warning bells go off in your head if your loved one doesn't say anything about their day and you anxiously ask "What's wrong?"

39. When going out it takes two hours to just get ready.

40. If you read this far you must be a caregiver!



:D:D:D:D:D:D:D




tied
04-24-2009, 04:35 PM
i must be a caregiver because i read the whole thing.

i must be one because now that my brother is taking a turn at it i can't stop worrying about how my dad is.

dad got on an independent streak, drove across country, devised a strategy for keeping his hands at 10 and 2 because "it wakes me up when i fall asleep at the wheel because my hands fall in my lap."

when i impulse shop it's for an assisted living center, a nursing home, or an over 55 community i am checking out for my dad, because even though he isn't interested i promised my sister. i tell myself, yah, i won't take him there unless he's unconscious. but i pick up the flyer anyway.

babie_racer_in
04-27-2009, 10:33 PM
This was funny. Most of them apply to me and I did read the whole thing. I am a care giver:D

SandyC
04-28-2009, 12:09 PM
I just thought of a couple more.

You wait until dark to put out the trash and check the mail because your still in your jammies. If you must go out in the day, you throw on something you hope looks like you don't stay in your jammies all day. :D

You live by the clock. Everything is planned down to the last minute. X amount of time for this, x amount of time for that just to get out of the house or up for company. :p

jon
05-24-2009, 07:53 PM
I identified with everything I read. I'm 78, live alone and have all those thoughts and problems. Wish I had a caregiver, and I know how you all feel, because I've been a caregiver for everyone. Now, my 18 year old cat gets all the benefits. You know, food and water!

What does this say about me???

CoolAngel26
05-24-2009, 08:52 PM
You have your daughter on speed-text anytime you are stressed.(Guys,Mom and Grandmother live together,I live three hours away,and can tell when Mom is going nuts.)

You wish you hadn't gotten rid of Grandma's gun,when you moved in with her..:D:D)

You think coffee ice cream should not be considered junk food,because,that is the only thing she will eat.

If I think of any more..I will contribute,if that's cool! Kristin

SandyC
05-25-2009, 11:23 AM
Kepp them coming! This is great! Laughter is the best medicine!

Dejibo
05-29-2009, 04:02 PM
you know your a care giver when you take a bag full of sweat shirts, and sweat pants, and socks to the nursing home or rehab center with you when you visit, because you are tired of seeing so many who cannot afford them wearing your loved ones shirts, or pants. (i used to do that when my uncle was committed. it was horrible)

You know your a caregiver when you hang up on brothers or sisters after shouting THEN YOU COME HELP ME, and we will do it YOUR way! Till then, its MY way, or nothing. nothing like helpful advice from 2k miles away.

SandyC
05-31-2009, 10:49 AM
you know your a care giver when you take a bag full of sweat shirts, and sweat pants, and socks to the nursing home or rehab center with you when you visit, because you are tired of seeing so many who cannot afford them wearing your loved ones shirts, or pants. (i used to do that when my uncle was committed. it was horrible)


I know this one very well since I worked in a NH and had loved ones in some. You also know your a caregiver if you use a sharpie to mark every piece of clothing so you can prove that's your loved ones clothes. When you find the sharpie wears off you resort to sewing the name on. :D

GmaSue
05-31-2009, 09:29 PM
You know you're a cargiver if...
when you are making a nutritious meal for them, you feel like you should be setting up meds-when you are setting up meds, you feel like you should be starting their laundry-when youare starting their laundry, you feel like you should be working on the insurance claims, etc. etc. etc.

even though it takes up your whole life, you are still glad you get to do it...

Juanita
06-26-2009, 12:35 AM
When you eat all of your so called meals standing up...
Your Shower takes 10 mins or less...
When you can drink a cup of Hot coffie in 5 mins or less..:):hug:

tied
06-30-2009, 11:30 PM
your coworkers are scared u will go postal

SandyC
07-01-2009, 05:14 PM
your coworkers are scared u will go postal

ROTFL!! :p

CoolAngel26
07-06-2009, 10:32 PM
You've got the new, 24 hour, $19.99 a month unlimited Access to God Prayer Plan, and they are now telling you your limit has been reached.

Sandy-you bit the nail right on the head..that is exactly how I'm feeling right now.:(:(

Taking care of yourself means...?

The last few weeks,Mom and I have both been struggling with that one.She's taking care of my grandmother,and I'm playing the workaholic card,and trying not to think about my grandmother's situation.

Thanks for letting me post here..This has been very helpful to me..

Kristin

tamiloo
07-09-2009, 08:11 PM
Oh, so good all so true!!

I just know that my life is all about maybe having a bath...hoping he will sleep long and hard...calling out for supper...by the time I have him clean, dressed, leg bag on...and seated in his lift chair with remote in one hand and his Dew in the other...I'm too tired to take a shower or want to do anything else...its 5:30pm...eeck...who has time for a shower when we will go to bed in a few hours and start all over again....:)

Also, for those with catheter care...trying to get enough urine to take for testing because you know something is cooking in his bladder.

I used to love to cook and clean and do all the domestic stuff but now it is really a very hard chore...glad he cares more about me then the super clean house!!

Wouldn't trade it for anything!!:hug:

gershonb
09-20-2009, 04:34 PM
Read all the way to line 40 before I started bawling.....
Took care of my late wife before she died of cancer at 46, after getting it in her brain and becoming unrecognizable for many months. They did radiation and I got her back for three weeks before the end....
Now I find myself caregiving again. Married another widow who had been a caregiver. I'm a hospice chaplain, recently laid off as people seemed to stop dying or something. My wife just had her second hip replaced, which is no big deal, but she has neuro problems that she won't acknowledge and hasn't worked in 10 years. I just read the MRI report on her spine and I doubt if she will ever work again. I thought there was nothing scarier than cancer, but this is scary. So thanks for the humor. My late wife handled her cancer with humor, and we had a blast before she went mad. She used to say, during chemo: "That which does not kill me will make me throw up."

gershonb

SandyC
09-26-2009, 06:56 PM
:hug:gershonb :hug: Glad we could make you smile.