I brought Dad to Walmart to pick up the prescriptions for high cholesterol and Vitamin D yesterday. The drugs came with papers describing problems. I should have hidden those!
He spent several HOURS reading them over and over.
The basic instructions were VERY simple. Take ONE provostatin pill daily. Take ONE Vit D pill weekly. Not 2 daily, not 2 weekly. Yet he sat reading the fine print accompanying the pills for HOURS.
The problem seems to be that he has two other meds . He hasn't taken them in the 5 months he's been here, but NOW, he wants to take them. On the advice of a DR he hasn't seen in 2 years. And for problems the new DR doesn't see...
I should steal the old pills, right?
Actually, I need to call the new DR and ask about the old pills.
But I need to set up a scheduke for the new pills. No way Dad will remember to take that weekly pill. And there are other things that need to be done. Weekly showers, daily water drinks.
So have an idea. Weekly pill and weekly shower - Friday night. Daily pill at lunch with a full glass of water.
And he chose a cane. Walmart had 2 basic canes in the store. There are many better ones online and I found a place that had many to choose from locally . He refused to visit the "many cane" place.
On the other hand, the one he chose is good enough. He walks better already (when he uses it). Getting him to keep the cane around is hard.
He fell 3 times this week without the cane. He didn't with it. But he doesn't want to use it.
That drives me nuts.
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5 comments:
I think of you almost every day about how you are coping and what it's like on a daily basis. You have a veyr tough job, It's good your dad will at least use a cane. Both me and my husband use them and we're constantly saying "where did I leave my cane?" You are doing a great job - now be sure to find some respite care so you get a little break now and then.
I think being driven crazy by things like this is normal. And I think you're doing a great job with it all, seriously.
If it helps, you might look into a pill minder container, then you're sure. If that day's is empty, took it already, full, gotta take it. And the once weekly goes in just once weekly, lol.
It's possible he doesnt remember how often he falls without the cane.. Keep putting the cane near him when he's sitting and eventually he'll start to use it out of habit.
I like the med taking reminders to put them with another task. Also to get him to drink more. Dehydration isn't good.
The cane, yeah, just make sure you keep it near him and hopefully he will come to rely on it more.
I also hope you have been able or want to call your Country or town's Elder Care and see about respite services, Mark. You need some time for you.
Linking pill taking with something else is the best way to do it I think. Even myself, There's some I take at night and after I brush my teeth I take my pills. It's so much a part of the routine now.
It might be best to "lose" those papers so he doesn't obsess so much about it.
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