Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
P
Pendeble Asked June 2022

How do people cope with the strain of caring for a much-loved spouse?

I still have to work part time as a private music instructor and I have to take him with me. He has a catheter and he will not let anyone else drain the leg bag. His brother comes once a week to help, but even he has to bring my husband to the place where I teach.

Taarna Jun 2022
Check out a regular catheter drainage bag that can hold more urine. He can use it while wearing baggier pants and nobody will know the difference. That will give you more time between having to empty his bag. This will also eliminate the "visits to work" to drain his bag. Check with a medical supply company.

againx100 Jun 2022
I don't see how you can bring him with you to teach music. You need to take some control of this situation, IMHO. If you have to work then he has to be with someone else so you can work in peace. Many people decide who they want to do X, Y and Z for them, but it's really not their choice.
Cover999 Jun 2022
🙂

ADVERTISEMENT


Llamalover47 Jun 2022
Pendeble: Many caregivers are literal Rock of Gibraltars, which includes you dear lady. That doesn't mean that you don't require help from time to time; perhaps you can seek respite for one of these weeks.

JeanLouise Jun 2022
So very sorry you're going through this. I too am caring for my husband. It's heartbreaking. Hugs to you

Grandma1954 Jun 2022
Does your husband nap at all?
If so is it possible that his brother can drain the leg bag while he is napping?

Would it be possible for his brother to try to convince him that it needs to be done right away and you could not be disturbed and "just this one time" would he let his brother drain the bag? Do this "just one time" a few times and your husband may be come comfortable with it.

But you are right. There are strains and each person has their own. I was lucky in that when my Husband was diagnosed I had retired from working full time and had a part time job. Shortly after the diagnosis the business closed down so I was able to be home when I was needed.
But I have to admit that my Husband was VERY easy to care for he was easy going, I never had a problem with him being non compliant with what I needed to do. And he was never agitated to the point where it was a danger for either of us.
I learned that since he could not adapt to the changes that were happening I had to learn how to adapt. That mental flip of the switch makes all the difference.

AlvaDeer Jun 2022
I sure don't know HOW they do it, and there are so many on Forum who are true heroes, including you, yourself. I was a nurse all of my life and I absolutely loved it. There were many days I didn't want my day off because it felt like abandoning a patient with whom I was close and involved. I hated the thought of retirement (but managed it very well, thanks).
HOWEVER, it was always clear to me that I could NEVER attempt to do in home care for an elder, and I had the very best two parents in the entire world. I simply could not have done it. The 24/7 of it. I could NOT have done it and I knew that limitation all my life, would not have tried. Luckily I did not need to come to be "called" to do it, but I would have had to decline.
When my brother became ill with early Lewy's he asked me to take over his bills, his finances, basically everything as POA and Trustee of his Trust. I did it. But I would never do that again. I was anxious as the proverbial cat on the hot tin roof for a year it took me to set everything up. Often on the phone for entire days. Trying to set everything up when not even in the same city was a crucible. I was already in late 70s and knew almost nothing about doing such a thing. The learning curve was steep and I still have the shelf of books to prove it. I am thrilled I did it. I am happy to have learned what I did learn. It may have even been "good for me", but wow, the anxiety had my blood pressure on a roller coaster.
So to answer you, I don't know how. My partner is 82. I am 80. I know that neither of us could care for the other. We both know it. And accept it. With sadness, but accept it.
You may have hard decisions in the future. But the things I know is that those decisions, if hard, will not mean you love him less.
My heart goes out to you and I wish you the best.

PeggySue2020 Jun 2022
Clients don’t like people bringing their dependents to a workplace where the client is paying them. Most prohibit it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter