The newest care plan

JoseyWales · July 2021

I have most of a plan for the next school year. Just thought I'd update for those who read these boards and want to know what others do. How to handle full-time care when the time came has been a huge a worry of mine from the first time I heard DH's diagnosis.

Last school year (I'm a teacher) I put together a variety of people to assist, but about 1/2 the time it was DS, who was home from college due to Covid. He's going back to college in a month.

My new plan involves a home health care nurse 4 days a week. I'm unbelievably lucky that she's available and lives nearby. She teaches 1 day a week at a local university, and will be with DH the other 4 days. She wants very little money for doing this - we've known her for many, many years and the last person she took care of recently passed. I will be paying her more than she is asking, because she's worth it.

That last day is still a puzzle, but I have the pieces I need- I just need to figure out how they go together. Daycare isn't working out, everywhere but 1 place I've called has either stopped doing it since Covid and has decided not to restart, or is not a good option. I'm visiting that last place next week. I'll still need to figure out transportation. But if that doesn't work out, I think I have a couple of leads on people who might be willing to fill 1 day a week.

Money wise, this is going to take almost all of my take-home pay. I've been saving for this for the last few years, and DH has a good amount of SSDI each month. And I may have a lead on a grant (but need more research on that one), and my father-in-law has offered to help financially a little each month. I'm comfortable with the costs, and I feel a great sense of relief that I have a plan.