What people (even professionals) fail to realize, Home Health, Hospice - ANYONE who comes out to show CALS "how to" is adding a brick to the flat car (as in trains) that is the CALS load. I have been given instructions on how to
1. exercise my PALS's arm 1 hour exercise to be done daily, = Total 1 hr
2. How to exercise her head, - 1 hour daily. = Total 2 Hr
3. How to exercise her feet, about .5 hours dailey, ) = Total 2.5 Hr
so all the exercising she is SUPPOSED to do, requires I (the CALS) to spend 2.5 hours assisting. Take that, and a
4. visit to the back door, a visit to the front door for PALS to get a sense of being out of the house, factor in another .5 hour
5. plus periodic of washing her good hand .25 hr. = Total 3.5 Hr.
6. To set her up with ET (Eye Gaze Machine) can take between .5 to 1 hours = Total 4 to 4.5 Hrs
7. Sorting PALS Meds .5 Hr = Total 4,5 to 5 Hours
8. Toileting PALS 5 - 10 times a day. @ .25 - .5 hr = Total 7 to 8.5
9. Food / Prep with medication X 4 @ .5 = Total 9 to 10.5 Hrs
10. Feeding X 3 @ plus cleanup = .75 = Total 11.25 to 12.75
11. Cough & Suction Machine Assist .25 - .5 X 4 (varies) = Total 12.25 to 14.75 Hours
12. Change PALS Clothes X 2 about 1 hour each session = Total 14.25 to 16.75 hours
13. Medicating / changing bandages getting PALS ready for bed = 1 hour or = Total 15.25 - 17.75
14. Assisting PALS through out the day estimated 1 - 2 hours = Total 16.25 to 19.75
15 Domestic chores; Washing clothes, dishes, = total 17.25 to 22.0
That leaves CALS 7 hours to 2 hours per 24 hour cycle to eat, wash, clothe themselves and whatever recreation they indulge in.
So, what do CALS do to conserve time EVERYTHING! This CALS is a Male. Unfortunately I do not suffer from baldness. It has been over 2 months since I have had a hair cut. I rarely shave and I can't even recall the last shower I took, and my last meal was cereal, fortified with fruit and milk. Before that is was a TV dinner. I have not been out of the house in over a week and that was a rush job to pick up PALS meds (weren't ready that day) and a quick trip to Walmart,
My "help" arrives at 10 PM and I spend 2 hours prepping for them and PALS (fix coffee and chill water). I change all bandages save for one or two, I prep her meds and administer them. I help put PALS in bed and I show aid how to and do apply the BiPAP to PALS. After that, I check on Aid, and try and get some stuff done before I crash making sure PALS is resting well. I usually climb into my recliner at 2 AM (I have been with the Aid for 4 hours of their 10 hour shift!) Late last night the Aid told me she had to leave early at 6 AM. It was then that her supervisor texted me this fact. When she left, after waking me, (tired as a dog), I missed my wife biting her lip which caused her severe pain and annoyed me to no end as, in my sleepless stupor, I did not recognize the issue. After finally getting PALS successfully masked with the BiPAP, we both fell asleep exhausted and didn't wake up until 10 AM which not creates a new problem for our day! Delayed feedings!
THERE IS NO LET UP from this relentless schedule. I think TOMSWIFE and I have hit the same issues.
