hi everyone,
well dad is back in Rose lodge for his second two week stint at respite ,
I think I’m the only one in the family who is more sympathetic to his situation , but it’s completely necessary as it gives mum a well earnt break and a complete rest from dad’s day to day management for the two weeks .
One funny thing that dad said to me on the first time he was in there , when I asked him how it actually was he replied it’s no good at all , because while I sit at the table eating I can see the other people just fading away in front of his eyes ,
The funny thing is that he is legally blind so he can’t really see them that well.
So to this time at respite ,
I asked him if he was now getting enough food as last time he said he was hungry.
He said that he was and that he was was quite satisfied with the meal portions,
He then commented that he has noticed that all the people that sit with him have deteriorated a lot since his last stay,
So it’s noticeable
He then told me something that made me laugh , that he was doing an exercise class
I couldn’t believe it
I asked him how it goes and he said that you have to be seated and that he can’t lift one of his arms up properly but it’s something to do.
He then told me that out of everyone that resides there that he was the only one that was moving forward and everyone else was going backwards .
I actually believe this as he is going along quite nicely , and is more physically fit than anyone else that resides in there ,
I guess that goes with his work ethic and all of the outdoor physical garden work that he undertakes
I still don’t like to see him there but I do understand that it’s an important part of life’s journey when our loved ones can’t take care of themselves anymore or their carer cant provide the necessary care to look after them at home anymore
That’s when an aged care facility becomes a completely necessary service and that it provides a safe regulated environment for our loved ones to live in.
Dad is coming out for a few hours on Thursday as a family friend has passed away to attend his funeral
The problem is that with their group of friends they are all at a vulnerable age and funerals seem to be coming more regularly but that’s a hazard of life
So we are still both cruising along just no adventures atm
I have been thinking of penning down some of dad’s history and some of his memories
I’m sure there will be some interesting things to come out of that
Until then
Take care
Cheers