Yesterday I ordered a lifting recliner for dad

 I suppose I should have done so sooner, but he had been getting stronger before he caught the bug.   I guess the aging boomers have created a good demand,  there were a variety of vendors, some with chairs that were only $400.  I didn't want to end up with cheap junk that would break or not work properly so Ichose one that was 6xx with many good ratings.   Hopefully it works out.  

The MaidesSite Electric chair lift I bought has been getting too much use 

That chair lift I bought has been getting too much use, but it works well and I bumped my rating of it up to 5 stars.   So my gizmo craze worked out well with that.   I'm not so sure about the gizmo for getting into cars.  That works and does save me worrying about hitting dad's head getting into the car, but with what the health care aide showed me I probably wouldn't have needed it.

Ugh, I think dad has a respiratory virus

 He hasn't said he feels sick, but he has been coughing more and sleeping extra, when he had seemed to be doing better on being awake/alert for a bit more of the day a week or so ago.   I'm giving him ivermectin in his morning juice with his vitamins w/o telling him cuz if I told him I think he'd decide the juice tastes off and refuse to drink it "cuz it doesn't do anything anyway"   Well its not a symptom reliever its supposed to help the body fight off the virus so you feel better from that in a few days.   Back to feeling lonely.  No one wants to hear that I am nervous about dad having a bug at his age and state of health.  

Two months ago I thought I wanted him to just die early in 2023 rather than me having to figure out how to set up an aide to come in so I could go off and ride but I've gotten used to the care and I have the service now and I'm fairly sure that settling the estate will be even more of a drag than feeling like dad needs a caregiver if I'm gone for more than 2-3 hours.  

And I feel like I just have to figure it out alone, cuz folks would either think I'm out to kill him, not insisting on a Doc visit to get a diagnosis when dad is under the weather or just think I'm being a bore wanting to vent about my little neurotic worries.  

I took put the pulse oximeter on him.  90 to 92.  His normal had been 94 or 95.  Not super super scary low, but low and most articles say you need to worry below 95.   Now I'm even more unsettled.  Should I ask him if he feels sick and want to go in to doc?  I suppose I should at least ask.  

p.s.  I did ask,  of course he said  "no I don't need to see doc"  and then it snowed.   He is somewhat better, improved appetite and seems more alert when awake but still sleeping all the time.   

Dashing through the snow

 Well wasn't much snow on the roads but I dashed to town in my car to buy horse feed and try to find wide shoes or slippers for dad and a gait belt the HHA agency said should be used.   I got a yoga belt, perhaps it will work as a fill in and I bought some cheap size 11 wide sneakers. 

Got home and dad was thinking it was Monday and he had to rush to get ready for his appointment.  I think he may still be thinking its Monday morning but got reminded that the appointment is not until 3 pm.  Ughh.  I hope the ear and eye docs can restore some hearing and improve his vision.  

p.s.   The health aide brought out a gait belt and left it.  I will see what the charge for that is.  The cheap sneakers worked.  I probably need to buy dad some diabetic socks.  

Dad heard the doorbell yesterday

 Good news for me, hopefully the hearing aid place can repair his aides so he can hear me again.  I need to turn his car around and set up the slide and ride to see if he can get in/out of the car with that help.  I should call 211 just in case he can not.  It would be good to know just what it takes to get a handicap van out here with someone who can get him down the two steps and into it. 

Yawn,  I wish I had a knack for getting in short naps.  Usually I don't actually fall asleep, or if I do doze off I better have an alarm set or else I'll sleep for a couple hours instead of just 20-30 minutes.   I need to run down and see if dad's car tire that was flat is holding air and if so turn it around and set up the slide and ride gizmo to get the leg heights correct.  Else need to pull dad's car out and set up my car.  Plus need to call insurance company.  The paperwork details seem to take so much time trying to handle both mine and his now. 

Jan 4 update.  211 was a bust.  I gave up staying on line and went to the colorado 211 web site like they recommended.  I guess I need to contact the via outfit.  Its not really what I need, it is a free ride system, but perhaps it could help somewhat.   I'm going to punt on trying to get dad to the hearing aid doctor and just take his hearing aides in.  His car was bricked yesterday.  I need to see if charging the non hybrid battery will get it to where it will at least start with a jump start.  My Volkswagen is bad on slick snow pack plus I didn't get the agency called to send someone out to help.   The neighbors would probably help me, but dad will hold a grudge for ages if I get stuck with him trapped in the passenger seat.   I just can't risk it.   I ordered checks for both our accounts yesterday.   One thing that needed doing but I need to buckle down and catch up on the paperwork and 'admin' tasks.   Neighbor gave me website for her BILs friend that does home health aide work.   I guess I'll try to contact the gal.   The actual 'health aide' tasks are not where I'm failing, it's the housework and making appointments with various docs plus lining up help to transport dad to those appointments that has me flummoxed. 

Ugh. Dad is on totally random sleep/wake schedule.

I'm nervous his hearing is gone, rather than the hearing aids not working.  Without his core TV show watching this no schedule at all is very likely going to continue until he dies or I can't take it and put him in a nursing home.    And his sight seems worse too.  I write him notes in huge font and it takes him forever to read and comprehend them.   I think there is also some dementia coming on; it is very hard to tell what is just him not being able to hear nor see well and what is mental fog.    I really don't want to put him in a facility when he can't hear and process explanations of what is going on so I will try to keep on plugging and be more proactive about bringing in an aide more often.   I keep punting on calling to have someone come especially on weekends because I think "well I'm not invited to go ride or anything anyway" and its been too cold for me to even want to ride.  I'm a big weenie about cold anymore.