Check with your local Veterans Service office and see if they have a Companion or Friendly Visitor program where a Vet would stop over a couple times a month and talk about common interests. It may be easier for you to hire a home care agency to come in each day than to relocate Charlie when his care needs become too much for you. There is an Aide and Attendance Disability Pension for Veterans of war time who have either service related or non service related disability when they reach the level of needing assisted living. There is an asset limit to this program though only Charlie's assets would count not yours. That pension goes a long way in paying for in home help. I used to care for a man who had lived in the wilds of Canada since his retirement and had bear skin rugs and mounts all over his residence. We hung 4 large bird feeders outside the dining room window and had a bird book and binoculars handy at all times. One day we had 5 large turkeys up on the deck! He was thrilled and talked about them for days. There is so much involved with the loss of abilities, certainly maintaining some of his interests from his earlier life will allow him to stay interested and vital. Bless you both, Charlie for his devotion and service to out country and you for your devotion and love to him. Best of luck on your journey.
We have recently been struggling with a similar issue- my husband can no longer enjoy the outdoors as he did before due to some severe back issues. Our solution was finding an electric golf cart. Not noisy, super comfortable, very easy to drive and get in and out of. They are easy to maintain and only require being plugged in for a charge after a few hours of use. New ones can be expensive but we found a used cart for a reasonable price. Now he enjoys taking me for an evening "stroll" around the property and on wooded trails. Un-like a rascal, golf carts are designed to be driven out of doors and on grassy areas, and accommodate a passenger. Some have a fold down seat on the back that grandkids like to sit in for a ride too. They are so quiet you can easily have a nice conversation or chat on the phone while riding. No, it's not the same as being able to do things like we used to, but it was a good alternative for us.
My husband is an avid outdoors-man and I thank you for this article. It alerts me to another aspect of aging that we will have to deal with and frankly I don't know how either one of us is going to stay remotely sane.
First of all, God bless Charlie for his service. I can understand his wanting to be part of the outdoors so much. Before my dad died, he was somewhat confined to his recliner by the window. We put a bird feeder right next to the window so that he could watch them all day. He even kept a large print bird book with pictures so that he could tell what kind they were (he really knew what they were from watching them for years - but it gave him something else to look at and check it out). He eventually would just sit and stare out the window, but it made him happy anyway. I hope you will be able to find a nice "woodsy" place in time. If you check on-line, while you're looking for a place, some of the places show virtual tours, and at the very least, some show pictures of the accommodations and surrounding grounds. I truly believe that there is a place for everyone out there, we just have to find it. Good luck and God bless you as well because it's not easy being caregiver to someone you love and to see them declining in their health.
I am not sure where you are located but the VEterans Home In King Wisconsin is a lovely spot on a lake with a handicapped fishing pier and many other amenities. You would have to apply way in advance since there is a long wait. They even have cabins there for couples. Good luck.
Many of us have to accept the effects of our limitations and cannot have all we would like to have. It is very frustrating to have to spend the majority of life sitting in a recliner when we would much prefer to be out walking but if we have the care we need and are warm and fed, we should be very thankful. Also we need to be sensitive to the needs of our caregiver and when the time is right, be willing to move to assisted living.
Marlis, thank your husband for me for his proud years of service.
If you cannot find a continuing care facility that has a wonderful view of wildlife, is there any chance that you could hire a person to come in to help you and Charlie? I fully understand how Charlie feels, I would be lost without my views, too.
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Dementia has Clipped the Wings of My Outdoorsman
There is an Aide and Attendance Disability Pension for Veterans of war time who have either service related or non service related disability when they reach the level of needing assisted living. There is an asset limit to this program though only Charlie's assets would count not yours. That pension goes a long way in paying for in home help. I used to care for a man who had lived in the wilds of Canada since his retirement and had bear skin rugs and mounts all over his residence. We hung 4 large bird feeders outside the dining room window and had a bird book and binoculars handy at all times. One day we had 5 large turkeys up on the deck! He was thrilled and talked about them for days.
There is so much involved with the loss of abilities, certainly maintaining some of his interests from his earlier life will allow him to stay interested and vital.
Bless you both, Charlie for his devotion and service to out country and you for your devotion and love to him.
Best of luck on your journey.
You would have to apply way in advance since there is a long wait. They even have cabins there for couples.
Good luck.
If you cannot find a continuing care facility that has a wonderful view of wildlife, is there any chance that you could hire a person to come in to help you and Charlie? I fully understand how Charlie feels, I would be lost without my views, too.