The Sub

Hello Everyone:

I think, for the very first time, I was so happy to see a caregiver leave. Really.  On Saturday, we had a substitute carer. The chatty carer had a family obligation and couldn’t come. The sub was a nice, maternal, older woman who drove mum and I up a tree. We had to repeat everything at least twice and she still didn’t understand a single thing. For example, I had show her how to prepare mum’s inhaler twice and I still got a blank look. After she left, mum and I looked at each other and decided we needed a drink. Given all the medications mum takes, alcohol is probably not a great idea so we decided on sparkling apple cider.  This morning the chatty carer returned and we had to spend some time sorting out all of mum’s medications. Apparently someone had mixed everything up, after I said not to do that, so we had to spend some extra time figuring out what was what. I really wish these carers would just pay attention to what they’re told instead of going off on their own. Anyway, by this  afternoon everything seemed to settle down. Another thing, I told mum that she had to make an in-person appointment with her primary care doctor. She’s been doing phone appointments but they have their limitations and she reached it. I also told her that she needs to speak to her doctor about a mental health referral. No joke. I finally had to put my foot down with all the mama drama. I told her that she can either make an appointment or I will and she may not like it. My version of appointment setting includes a possible 72-hour hold—a non voluntary, three day stay in the psych ward. I don’t want to do that but if I have to, I will. I’ve enlisted the carers to help me and I’ve mostly backed off to give mum a chance to make the appointment. She has a hard deadline and I will check to see if she did make an appointment. Alright, I’m tired.