Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 I am a caregiver for a Mentally Challenged Woman ( she suffers from mental retardation as well as Schizophrenia, dependant Personality, and Seizure disorders). I assist her with her daily living needs so that she can remain living independently in her own apartment. Which means, since I am her primary staff, I am responsible for all her doctor appointments, medication needs, shopping needs, beauty needs (nails and hair) and hygienic needs. I have to take her to all her appointments whether it be psychiatric,ob/gyn, or DHS and I have to sit in to translate for her to understand and give the docs or case workers all info needed for her care. I have to know all her pills just like my own and set them up weekly for her. I have to handle all her banking needs (thank goodness someone else handles her finances), I have to handle all her Social Services needs (like food stamps and housing), I have to find her a new apartment to move to in May of 2005. I have to make sure she has groceries, cooks dinner, cleans her house, does her laundry and bathes. I have to keep eye on her condition... health..seizures, treatments, infections, finances, psych. ..etc.... I'm suppose to handle all of this in 8 hours a week..HA.. I've been working closer to 16 a week lately (since she is having issues). The last month or so I've put in 20 hours twice. Which near kills me, but I don't want to see her lose her independence. :-( Plus, I have to convince her to do things she doesn't want to do, and convince her that I am doing it for her own good, not just to be mean... Then of course, I have my children. The ex husband and custody issues to deal with. He has custody and is a control freak, so it has been quite a task to get him to let me see the girls. Had to fight him in court and show him he wasn't God and now I just have to keep it smooth so he will continue giving them to me Extra (non court ordered times). I'm court ordered to have them about 25% of the year and so far the past 2 years, I have gotten him to give me between 35% and 43% of the year. I thought it was over 50% but hubby and I counted on the calendar last week and in 2004, I will have had 43% of the year. X got something like 53 days more than me, but I am still suppose to give him nearly 75-85% of my pay. (he only gets 50% cause that is all they can take but he is suppose to get 527.00 and I make 600.00) Can't get Child Support changed until I get SSDI and those idiots are fighting me tooth and nail!!!! Even though we had my girls, almost the entire summer, X got most of my checks. He asked us to take them but then didn't offer any $ back of course to feed and clothe them..UGH... HE knows I won't give up a minute so he can use and abuse me all he wants. Hell, WE would pay him to give us custody! And my hubby and his recent failing health. He has had 3 surgeries in the past 3 years and is scheduled for a minor #4. Finally, there is me and my health. UGH..... I'm so tired and sore. It is a lot! and My client takes up alot of time, on and off the clock. My hubby has even commented for being a part-time employee, I spend an awful lot of off hours on the phone taking care of her needs. Nobody seems to be able to do anything for her without calling me at least 3 of my 5 days off. For a while, I was getting a daily call about her. Now is has slowed down some. Maybe if I started billing the company for all the hours I spend on the phone at home, they would stop calling me and asking me to handle stuff??!! I've wanted to quit several times, but I feel so obligated, and now they want me to transport another client, that I used to work with, home from work every day. I said I would only do it the 2 days that I am already working with my main client. The supervisor actually asked me "Why can't you do it all 5 days?" I just said... "Uh.....There is a reason that I don't work 5 days a week, these are the days I can do it yes or no." It is so hard for me to say No.... I don't know why, I just hate to disappoint people I guess. eeooowww......I've RAMBLED... Sorry..... :-) Ya got me going....LOL Alenna PS... and hubby has been such a butt lately. Can't stand him when he is sick. I hurt every single day of my life, but when he has a simple ear ache you would think the world had shit in his lap. :-( SO Frustrating! kwim? -------------------------------------------------- Site Moderator for: fibromyalgia_support_group Site Moderator and Co/Owner for: ncm_wisdom Emails: alenna@... and alennam@... / Aim id: brucenorton2000 "When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." Helen Keller (1880 - 1968) Alenna Alenna, What kind of work do you do? Just hearing the list of things you have done today and more tomorrow. WEW!! I'm exhausted. Alot of us are down today or hurting alot. I'm just very tired all day and slept. I feel for you having your husband to care for plus yourself and a client. Take care of yourself. hugs Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2004 Report Share Posted December 8, 2004 Alenna, You have a big heart. With all that to do, don't forget to take care of yourself and family first. I used to have a problem saying yest to everybody, but thats how you become overwhelmed. Take care girl. hugs for ya, Norma -- Norma/ Alenna I am a caregiver for a Mentally Challenged Woman ( she suffers from mental retardation as well as Schizophrenia, dependant Personality, and Seizure disorders). I assist her with her daily living needs so that she can remain living independently in her own apartment. Which means, since I am her primary staff, I am responsible for all her doctor appointments, medication needs, shopping needs, beauty needs (nails and hair) and hygienic needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Alenna, I think you are a very good mom for your girls. I'm so sorry you have had such a hard time. I have only boys, but I know a girl needs to be close to her mom. I'm glad you get to see them as much as you do. They will always know their mom loves them. loving hugs, Norma -- Norma/ Alenna Norma, Ziada is 11 and Kacie is 8. When I first left they were 5 and 2, when I lost custody officially, they were 7 and 4. Rambled again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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