I am caregiver of spouse. Right now I am able to do everything in taking care of us both and our home. Thoughts?

I have been checking on Medicare/Medicaid and we are not in the need right now. I do need to get ready for the difficult days head. While, I can do so much in my chair, I am realizing there will be many things beyond my control.

Thank you so much for your insight. I know I'll have to hire someone to help. My chair is a surprise to many but your would be surprised what you can do if you are shown. Once he becomes bedridden, it will not be something I can do. I believe with all my heart that we have a need for help - when we don't make enough to pay all costs and we make a little to much to qualify. We both know that if the time comes, I will make the difficult decisions. We're on year 11 with this. I know my challenge lies ahead.

LNReason, how lucky your hubby is to have you by his side. You are a good problem solver and willing to try different things. Sounds like your wheelchair hadn't stopped you in the past and it won't stop you now.

One never know what is in store for the future. It is good to plan ahead for whatever comes your way, and you seem to be doing it correctly. Keep thinking :)

When my parents were in their late 80's, my Mom thought she could handle anything that came her way. Such has picking up my Dad if he fell. She was in for a surprise. She had to call my sig-other to come to the house to help Dad. I know the local fire dept/rescue dept are more than willing to help so that is an option.

So run all sorts of issues through your mind, and have option A, B, and C.

Hope everything works out smoothly for you and hubby :)

Please don't make assumptions about what county aid might be available to you. Contact social services for your county and have them come out and do an assessment to see what in-home help you'd qualify for.

Kudos to you, a fellow "problem-solver" but please please make sure you take care of yourself more or equally. Caregiving can be extremely draining on every front. Even if you did have neighbors, or even family, close by you could only depend on them for a limited amount on help that is not "on demand". See what the county and other nearby faith-based organizations can do to provide help. You may even want to explore Medicaid for him. I wish you many blessings!

I have to ask the obvious question here, how in the world are able to take care of your husband, yourself and your home, when you say you are in a wheelchair? That is quite an ambitious task, even for someone not in a wheelchair. I'm not sure you are being realistic here. I took care of my husband for many, many years, and I am not in a wheelchair, including the last 22 months of his life where he was completely bedridden. It was hard. I could not have gotten him from "point A to point B" by myself, once he was bedridden, if my life had depended on it. I had my oldest grandson help out for about 10 months and then I had to hire an aide to put him on the bedside commode, and then put him back in bed. He was under hospice care as well, but don't think for one minute that they will give you or him the kind of care you will need. They have a nurse that comes out once a week, to check his vitals, (usually there about 45 minutes tops)and then an aid will come about twice a week to bathe him. That's it as far as any help from them, so 99.9% of your husbands care will still fall on you. I admire the fact that you want to take care of your husband. I did too, but I could not have done it without the appropriate help. It sounds like at this point, the best help you can give him and yourself, is to to place him in the appropriate facility, or hire some outside help(even though you say you can't right now) His safety and yours as well, must be your number one priority. Sometimes the right answers are not the ones we want to hear, but they are still right. God bless you.