I am in a wheelchair with severe balance issues and spasticity in one leg. My husband and I live in an ADA apartment, but I fell trying to use the toilet by myself because the toilet configuration and grab bars cause me to have to lead with my weak leg. As a result, I am no longer able to use the toilet without his assistance. I've looked into various assistive devices, but nothing is tailored to my apparently novel problem.
He's a good and caring husband, but my new dependency is getting us both down. We are low income. I looked into having a caregiver come in for a respite day for my husband, but it would cost about $100 per visit because there is a three-hour minimum. All I need is someone to help me use the toilet a couple of times while he's gone. Should I be calling around to more places or are they all going to cost about this much? I'd sure like someone who is caring and kind. I know. That sounds like an impossibility, finding someone who is caring and willing to come for a short time and is affordable.
Any ideas?
Thank you.
Get a commode and then you can place it where it works best for you.
You can then empty it out and refresh it, alleviating the need for your husband to have to do this for you.
A bucket with a lid to transport waste to bathroom, a spray bottle of cleaner to freshen commode and a small bucket for water to place in commode for ease of clean up. Easy peasy.
Or you could wear depends while he is gone.
1. Try to find recent immigrants to this country. Sometimes, recent immigrants come from a culture where elderly people are respected, and they are warm and loving. Before I quit my job and came home to be a full-time caregiver, this really helped me.
2. Start using disposable briefs. Not pleasant at all, but you won't have to worry about falling trying to get on the toilet, and you won't have to pay expensive caregivers.
If you find better answers, please make sure you post them here. We all need all the help we can get.
When I was caring for my mother I contacted my Area Council on Aging and they provided money to pay someone to come into my home and sit with / assist my mother. I was able to use the money to pay someone I know or an agency. If you are low income and receiving medicaid you may be able to get assistance from medicaid as well. I hope that this works out for you and your husband.
https://www.o3a.org/
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