Sun Naps
First nap of the New Year (2021). After a morning arguing with me about whether or not strawberries are still in the market, asking if I was drinking Folgers and if they are still in business packaged in a red can, discussing future care options so he would know all the alternatives (again), complaining about his toe/hands/neuropathy (always), eating breakfast (that my husband so kindly made), questioning details about the documentary Into The Inferno that we watched last night, listening to his email, requesting I order sourdough bread from a local cottage bakery and on and on and on. He finally settled down for a nap in the sun.
Maybe it’s the intranasal insulin, or perhaps the Aricept, or the Cymbalta. Maybe it’s just the right amount of mental & social stimulation, but he’s sure on a mental clarity roll right now. I don’t get too excited though, we’ve been here before. The bursts don’t last but they sure are entertaining. And exhausting.
Caregiving Tools
Phone Lanyard: We get asked a lot about the lanyard around his neck holding his iPhone. It’s just a simple little tool I got for him on Amazon and works great. Just be sure to put the phone in upside down so when your loved one picks it up, it’s facing the right direction for face recognition and for them to read.
Neck Pillow: He loves to sit in the sun, but always complained about neck cramps so we reversed his old travel neck pillow to make it a chin rest/neck support and it works great! You can find one like it on Amazon.
Wheelchair: The wheelchair he is sitting in a discontinued model but Medline makes some great wheelchairs and many are HSA and/or FSA eligible. Also remember that Medicare Part B partially covers medically necessary power-operated vehicles(scooters), walkers, and wheelchairs as durable medical equipment (DME). Talk to your doctor or contact Medicare for more details. Typically you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you pay your Part B deductible for the year. Medicare pays the other 80%. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), contact your plan to find out about costs and which DME suppliers you can use. Here’s a link to the Medicare page with more details.