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Are you prepared? I was in an accident and can not drive for quite awhile. I cannot do much for myself let alone my LO. Family has pitched in to help. This would not be doable without the AL and family. Take care of yourself caregiver! "Caregivers going strong" are not invincible. Line up support just in case.

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Nightowl, I'm so sorry you're hurt! Heal well!
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What would happen in the event of an accident or illness are aspects of caregiving about which I've worried and stressed, and not as yet found any answers.

I'm glad for you though that you do have the support of family. A caregiver who is recovering from an accident or illness and has no support must be under a lot of pressure, especially as it concerns the person for whom she/he was caring.
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I'm beyond grateful for my kids (5, all married to wonderful people) all of whom have told me I am welcome to live with them (oddly, this invite doesn't apply to their dad...) and as sweet as this is---we've prepared ourselves financially to NEVER have to lean on the kids.

I do feel for people who have lived "lonely" lives, by choice or circumstance and find themselves in situations where they have literally zero support.

I try to cultivate friendships with people of all ages, older than I am, younger, and keep them close and on good terms. Right now, the young mom I help is appreciating my expertise with babies, in 20 years she may be my caregiver. You never know what to plan for!
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I think of this often. I have notes everywhere. I have medication lists and schedules that are very detailed in case I get "hit by a bus"
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OMG - I hear you! Loud and clear!!

I do hope you mend soon. As I look at my 'responsibilities' - I try to remember to protect myself at all costs.

I am saddened that you were hurt so badly and pray you are 'yourself' again soon.

**When I was caring for my Dad, I sent a list of all his medications to my siblings "just in case" and one wrote me back asking why I was sending it?!  So yes, I do understand and can relate.
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I'm going through this now. May have broken a bone in my foot falling over Dad's walker. Husband's helping as much as possible, but I feel so invisible in my own pain.
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My sister is POA for my Mom.She is the best and can do no wrong.Mom is in a Nursing home far away and she is on narcotics for pain.When I go to see my Mom it breaks my heart.but she wants my sister to be POA. I think she is fading away slowly
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NightOwl, sorry about your accident! Glad your family is stepping up to help.

Anjolie, you might have broken your foot? PLEASE get it looked at! I know two people who broke a foot, and it's been months of casts and boots (and, for one, surgery).
How can you take care of an elder (or is it two; your profile says you take care of your mother in your home, yet you hurt your foot on your father's walker?) with a hurt foot?

Do you have siblings? Can your parent(s) stay with them while you recuperate?
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You are right on. I am mentally scrambling right now. My husband's niece has been my backup if something happens to me. We found out she has stage 4 breast cancer that has totally disintegrated one of her vertebra, and they found a mass on her adrenal gland this week. So, not only do I need another backup person. I may be helping her. I have no clue who will step in.
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I have seen 2 doctors, but my foot is so swollen, X-rays aren't able to detect where the damage is.
I'm having trouble with profile section. I caregiver both of my parents, both of whom have different forms of dementia. I have one brother in the same city; another a thousand miles away. My husband and I are live-in caregivers (me-Mom, husband-Dad).
After I fell over my Dad's walker, I couldn't even get anybody's attention for at least half an hour. I felt invisible and like Cinderella.
Another thing the profile disallows me stating, is that I live in Canada. Socialized medicine is, for the most part, great. Until you need to see a specialist...or to bring in respite care. The government says, wait in line.
As to my brother taking our parents in, I'm stuck. Our house isn't mine yet (it's my childhood home) and both my brother and sister-in-/law work.
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I have seen 2 doctors, but my foot is so swollen, X-rays aren't able to detect where the damage is.
I'm having trouble with profile section. I caregiver both of my parents, both of whom have different forms of dementia. I have one brother in the same city; another a thousand miles away. My husband and I are live-in caregivers (me-Mom, husband-Dad).
After I fell over my Dad's walker, I couldn't even get anybody's attention for at least half an hour. I felt invisible and like Cinderella.
Another thing the profile disallows me stating, is that I live in Canada. Socialized medicine is, for the most part, great. Until you need to see a specialist...or to bring in respite care. The government says, wait in line.
As to my brother taking our parents in, I'm stuck. Our house isn't mine yet (it's my childhood home) and both my brother and sister-in-/law work.
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Anjolie1031, I know it is a mind boggling concept for Canadians to wrap their heads around, but we are always able to open our wallets and pay for respite in a facility or home caregivers just as our American cousins do, we only need to wait in line for funded services. As for seeing a specialist I sympathize - sometimes wait lists are significantly shorter if you are willing to look outside your immediate area.
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My answer is a YES! I do not wait to see a doctor when a health problem arises. Also, when the need arises, I will modify my home to accommodate my aging needs.
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Thanks all for the concern. I am glad to read others are prepared, worried for those who don't have support. My accident has now led to surgery so again it shows you just can't control all things.
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NightOwl, hope your surgery was a success and you will be on the mend. Yes, we can be prepared, just wish our parent(s) would do the same thing.

I had worried about what to do if I got benched for some reason, who's going to deal with my very aging parents [90's] who had decided that living in a 3 story house with a lot of stairs was a super great idea, and whom refused caregivers to enter the front door.

My Mom was mainly in denial about my age, as I was also a senior. My Dad understood. And like we have all heard 1 in 3 people 65 and older will have a fall. Sure enough I did. I fell in my office parking lot had broken my upper primary arm. Oh great, now what?

Like what happened to you, I couldn't drive for many months. No way could I even shift the gears much less put the key into the starter. My parents just glared at me saying "who is going to drive us?" Of course, a couple days later Dad called as he wanted me to drive him to the barber shop. Say what??? I had rehab 3x a weeks for months on end as my right arm froze up.

Well, I have no siblings, nor did I ever had any children. No one to pass the baton to.... well, there was sig other, but he wasn't user friendly when it comes to care. So my folks just hibernated in the house for 6 months, cancelling all their doctor appointments, etc. Waiting for me to heal. I ordered groceries on-line for them. Mom wasn't all too happy.... the items "tasted funny" even thought it was a same products from inside the grocery store!!! You'd think it would be a wake-up call for them to decide to move to Independent Living. According to my Mom, nope, never, nada even though Dad was ready to book.
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Dear NightOwl,

I hope your surgery goes well. Thank you for the timely reminder. It is true.

When my dad was alive, I would worry even when I went on vacation. I tried to pay all the bills in advance, make sure the house was stocked with food and cleaned. I even washed his car and filled it with us. I was always worried that if something happened to me, that dad had at least enough to carry him through till the siblings came to help.

I am trying my best to have my own financial house in order. As for my health, I hope I can depend on some help from my extended family. See what happens.
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Night Owl, much love and good luck to you!
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Dearest NightOwl: I am sending healing prayers posthaste.
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