I am visiting my dad who lives out of state. He had cataract surgery yesterday and needs to take a bunch of drops for the first week and fewer over the next three weeks. He has phone problems, money problems, and more. Help! First off, my dad has a housemate who is struggling with his own disability. My dad has a hospice nurse who comes once a week. My dad is poor and I am struggling. Even if we had money, my dad is sufficiently stubborn to say no to almost all the help he is offered. If you have dealt with an elderly person or another person who has difficulty understanding and difficulty being understood, please help me figure out a couple of things.
1. What's the easiest, most obvious way of helping my dad and his housemate track my dad's remaining eyedrops over the next 3 1/2 weeks? I was supposed to go home last week and found out about the surgery by accident and extended my trip by a week. But I can't stay past Friday. My dad needs 3 types of eyedrops 4x daily until next Wednesday. After that he needs 2 types 2x daily for three more weeks. A simple chart with big writing listing the times and days for his drops might work, but if there's a better solution please tell me.
2. My dad keeps buying and losing shitty tiny flip phones that he can't even use. Has anyone used or known people who use jitterbug or other phones that work well for elderly people or thise with hearing, vision and dexterity problems?
3. My dad is a veteran, and I'm on his emergency kist. I know there are ways to monitor his appointments but I'm not sure how. Also, he takes a blood thinner and because of HIPA apparently the pharmacy can't call me to tell me if his dosage changes after a blood test. But they often can't tell him either because he doesn't hear his phone ring, and is unable to use the voice mailbox feature. If I knew what the change was I could text his housemate. Yikes! Dunno what to do about that one.
4. My dad has a hospice social worker but she can't do much when he says no to all of her suggestions. My dad is determined to stay at home and I am determined to help him, but it is increasingly hard for him to keep track of things, including bills and cash. I do have a signed power of attorney from several years back which I haven't used yet because he will rip me a new one if I do.
Any suggestions, advice, or moral support is welcome. I love my dad and would like to make life easier for him if it all possible. I am watching him become more and more isolated and it's hard on both of us.
1. What's the easiest, most obvious way of helping my dad and his housemate track my dad's remaining eyedrops over the next 3 1/2 weeks? I was supposed to go home last week and found out about the surgery by accident and extended my trip by a week. But I can't stay past Friday. My dad needs 3 types of eyedrops 4x daily until next Wednesday. After that he needs 2 types 2x daily for three more weeks. A simple chart with big writing listing the times and days for his drops might work, but if there's a better solution please tell me.
2. My dad keeps buying and losing shitty tiny flip phones that he can't even use. Has anyone used or known people who use jitterbug or other phones that work well for elderly people or thise with hearing, vision and dexterity problems?
3. My dad is a veteran, and I'm on his emergency kist. I know there are ways to monitor his appointments but I'm not sure how. Also, he takes a blood thinner and because of HIPA apparently the pharmacy can't call me to tell me if his dosage changes after a blood test. But they often can't tell him either because he doesn't hear his phone ring, and is unable to use the voice mailbox feature. If I knew what the change was I could text his housemate. Yikes! Dunno what to do about that one.
4. My dad has a hospice social worker but she can't do much when he says no to all of her suggestions. My dad is determined to stay at home and I am determined to help him, but it is increasingly hard for him to keep track of things, including bills and cash. I do have a signed power of attorney from several years back which I haven't used yet because he will rip me a new one if I do.
Any suggestions, advice, or moral support is welcome. I love my dad and would like to make life easier for him if it all possible. I am watching him become more and more isolated and it's hard on both of us.