week 2 June Visit - Progress is our most important product
Dear all,
Another week gone and so much has been accomplished! I thought I would give you another email full of progress!
The apartment is nearly ready for Graham to move in. The ceiling hoist was put in on Thursday and it is really an amazing item -- the track goes all the way from over his bed (location) into the bathroom over the bathtub. There is a ramp into the apartment and the fixed table in the kitchen area has been built. This week the desk will be built for his computer and so forth. On Wednesday this last week Graham and I took the bus to the apartment so he could try out the table for height before the desk is built in. The ramp worked perfectly and the table was just right for him to get under it with his powered chair. I spent 3 hours on Friday morning cleaning because the ceiling hoist work created dust everywhere, a very fine layer of white from the drilling and from breaking through the two door jambs. I had to use a wet sponge on all of the shelves and other items in the room, and mop the floor. It looks really nice however, all clean and ready for Graham to occupy.
Two very good caregivers have been secured. The overnight caregiver is a lovely woman who was born in Guatemala! She will live in with Graham, arriving around 5 pm every day and staying until about 7 am every morning. One thing she was very enthusiastic about was the kitchen and all the kitchen equipment that was delivered at the same time by the wonderful folks from Clio. She says she loves to cook! That will be very nice for Graham's apetite, I am sure! Her name is Aura, pronounced A-oo-rah, and we are hoping she can move into the apartment on the 1st of July ready for Graham about 10 days later!
The other caregiver is called Kathy, and she is extremely knowledgeable about caregiving in the area, having done lots of it. She was recommending all kinds of things Graham might be eligible for, so that seems very positive. She is willing to be extremely flexible in the day caregiving so that Graham will not be left alone for 4 hours every day. Currently we have talked about her being there from 9 to 11 and then from 1 to 3. However, she can change the times to suit them both and so we are feeling very happy about that 4 hour gap no longer being a problem.
As these things are now in place, Graham can go to the Rehab Institute (RISB) and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, that will take place on Monday the 26th (yes THIS Monday). They will pick him up at 10 am on Monday morning and take with them all his personal belongings he will need at RISB. I will follow behind in the car (thank you, Craig and Lorraine for the car which has truly been a Godsend!) and stay with Graham through the admissions process until he is settled at RISB. The first 3 days Graham will be assessed by the doctors and therapists and then a plan with lots of goals will be created. Graham will have 3 hours of rehab a day, and I have been told that they really push the patients there. They should start him back into feeding himself as much as possible and doing other things. Hopefully Graham will be able to continue going there to use the rehab gym to continue making progress.
My final few days here will be spent at the apartment trying to empty enough boxes, or move them around, to put the second bed into that room. As Aura has her own bed, and as it is important to have space for a visitor or other overnight caregiver for relief, I am trying to make the second bedroom at least available! At the moment it is chock-a-block with boxes, many of them are books that will probably stay in boxes for some time to come.
Naturally Graham is anxious about these changes and we are doing what we can to help him to make the transition. He will only be at RISB probably for two weeks, so he might be moving to his apartment on the 10th of July. The doctor at RISB will be ordering his bed and other equipment that he will need so those things are not yet at the apartment, but I am sure they will make certain he has what he needs. They will actually come to the apartment to asses if it is ok for his needs.
I have tested out the apartment already. I found that the fridge freezer was not working, so have had it repaired. I have had the gas cooker and the gas heater checked out by the Gas Company. I have boiled water to make tea and stocked the shelves a bit with some tea, coffe, decaf and sugar so if you come there, you can have a nice hot drink (very English of me!). Cari delivered the beautiful new bedding and also brought me rags, mop and bucket!
Craig is going to stain and varnish the table and desk and also touch up the white paint where the door jambs were broken through to make it all look very nice.
So there is plenty more to be done before I leave.
Then, of course, I will be back with my family on the 26th of July! I will send the invitation in a separate email to this one, but keep the 6th of August open for the pot luck party at Goleta Presbyterian Church.
Oh yes, I have had Mexican food three days in a row now, yum and Ole! Today I am going to the Summer Solstice Parade in Santa Barbara with Craig and Lorraine, and then to the wedding of Noel, Airasa's best friend from when she used to come here all the time. So a day of rest from all the work I have been doing!
Love and peace to you all,
Linda
Another week gone and so much has been accomplished! I thought I would give you another email full of progress!
The apartment is nearly ready for Graham to move in. The ceiling hoist was put in on Thursday and it is really an amazing item -- the track goes all the way from over his bed (location) into the bathroom over the bathtub. There is a ramp into the apartment and the fixed table in the kitchen area has been built. This week the desk will be built for his computer and so forth. On Wednesday this last week Graham and I took the bus to the apartment so he could try out the table for height before the desk is built in. The ramp worked perfectly and the table was just right for him to get under it with his powered chair. I spent 3 hours on Friday morning cleaning because the ceiling hoist work created dust everywhere, a very fine layer of white from the drilling and from breaking through the two door jambs. I had to use a wet sponge on all of the shelves and other items in the room, and mop the floor. It looks really nice however, all clean and ready for Graham to occupy.
Two very good caregivers have been secured. The overnight caregiver is a lovely woman who was born in Guatemala! She will live in with Graham, arriving around 5 pm every day and staying until about 7 am every morning. One thing she was very enthusiastic about was the kitchen and all the kitchen equipment that was delivered at the same time by the wonderful folks from Clio. She says she loves to cook! That will be very nice for Graham's apetite, I am sure! Her name is Aura, pronounced A-oo-rah, and we are hoping she can move into the apartment on the 1st of July ready for Graham about 10 days later!
The other caregiver is called Kathy, and she is extremely knowledgeable about caregiving in the area, having done lots of it. She was recommending all kinds of things Graham might be eligible for, so that seems very positive. She is willing to be extremely flexible in the day caregiving so that Graham will not be left alone for 4 hours every day. Currently we have talked about her being there from 9 to 11 and then from 1 to 3. However, she can change the times to suit them both and so we are feeling very happy about that 4 hour gap no longer being a problem.
As these things are now in place, Graham can go to the Rehab Institute (RISB) and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, that will take place on Monday the 26th (yes THIS Monday). They will pick him up at 10 am on Monday morning and take with them all his personal belongings he will need at RISB. I will follow behind in the car (thank you, Craig and Lorraine for the car which has truly been a Godsend!) and stay with Graham through the admissions process until he is settled at RISB. The first 3 days Graham will be assessed by the doctors and therapists and then a plan with lots of goals will be created. Graham will have 3 hours of rehab a day, and I have been told that they really push the patients there. They should start him back into feeding himself as much as possible and doing other things. Hopefully Graham will be able to continue going there to use the rehab gym to continue making progress.
My final few days here will be spent at the apartment trying to empty enough boxes, or move them around, to put the second bed into that room. As Aura has her own bed, and as it is important to have space for a visitor or other overnight caregiver for relief, I am trying to make the second bedroom at least available! At the moment it is chock-a-block with boxes, many of them are books that will probably stay in boxes for some time to come.
Naturally Graham is anxious about these changes and we are doing what we can to help him to make the transition. He will only be at RISB probably for two weeks, so he might be moving to his apartment on the 10th of July. The doctor at RISB will be ordering his bed and other equipment that he will need so those things are not yet at the apartment, but I am sure they will make certain he has what he needs. They will actually come to the apartment to asses if it is ok for his needs.
I have tested out the apartment already. I found that the fridge freezer was not working, so have had it repaired. I have had the gas cooker and the gas heater checked out by the Gas Company. I have boiled water to make tea and stocked the shelves a bit with some tea, coffe, decaf and sugar so if you come there, you can have a nice hot drink (very English of me!). Cari delivered the beautiful new bedding and also brought me rags, mop and bucket!
Craig is going to stain and varnish the table and desk and also touch up the white paint where the door jambs were broken through to make it all look very nice.
So there is plenty more to be done before I leave.
Then, of course, I will be back with my family on the 26th of July! I will send the invitation in a separate email to this one, but keep the 6th of August open for the pot luck party at Goleta Presbyterian Church.
Oh yes, I have had Mexican food three days in a row now, yum and Ole! Today I am going to the Summer Solstice Parade in Santa Barbara with Craig and Lorraine, and then to the wedding of Noel, Airasa's best friend from when she used to come here all the time. So a day of rest from all the work I have been doing!
Love and peace to you all,
Linda
posted by Cosmic Sunshine at 11:28 AM
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