First time home respite caretaker

Maru · August 14

This week was the first time that we had a respite caretaker here at the house. DH is somewhere around stage 4 and for the most part is "just fine", but I know for a fact that if there was an emergency he would not know what to do (he has already proven that to me).
I was apprehensive that he would say something like "I don't need a baby sitter", so I prefaced the whole thing to him by saying that it would be give me peace of mind to have someone here in case something happened to him while he was alone. He was fine with that. Maybe this suggestion will help someone else who is considering having a companion come in while they go out for a few hours.

Jeff H · August 14

I'm glad you were able to take a break for yourself. I'll have to try that line sometime soon. Thanks for sharing.

annie51 · August 14

Good first visit then! That’s great news. The value of respite is hard to measure, but SO important. Good job making it work.

blacksparky · August 14

I also earlier on with my DW’s stage used a couple of caregivers from our neighborhood to come over 2 hours a couple of days each week, to give me a respite break. I told my DW that our friends are here to visit and she bought it. Eventually she looked forward to their visits. You mentioned your DH would not recognize an emergency. I tested my DW one day by laying down on the floor like I had fallen and she just walked around me for over 15 minutes. After I got up, I asked her if she saw me on the floor and she said no. I immediately researched and purchased a medical alert device for me to wear just in case I actually had an emergency medical situation.

persevere · August 15

Good for you Maru. Sounds like you handled it perfectly.

Windsock · August 15

Maru, thanks for sharing. I’m about to have my first experience with a caregiver coming in and so worried about how it will go with my DW. I get 4 hours a week from our daughter now but as you know we need a bit more respite from these 36 hour days.

First time home respite caretaker

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