About my dad!

Some of you are aware that I take care of my father's well being. Remembering he is legally blind and uses the legal white stick. I am his only child so therefore his next of kin.

So I visit my dad in another city every week staying a night or two, and sometimes I visit 2 times a week and sometimes my husband comes with me.

The trip to dad's two story house from my house takes me 1-1/2 hours, that is from my garage into his garage. I have never missed, expect for when my husband and I travel to visit our youngest son, his wife and their little children in Queensland for 1 month each year. Yes, we need a holiday and break away.

I read him his mail, take him to the Dr. when necessary, do his shopping, pay his accounts, do his washing, and keep his kitchen and other areas of the house clean. Occasionally he will come to get the groceries with me.
I handle all his affairs, and together we make decisions as my dad is very lucky with a very good mind.
He tells me many stories, often they are repeated many times :) but I always pretend it's the first time.

A cleaning lady comes weekly.

Registered nurses: One comes 3 times a week and gives dad a shower. Another comes each Friday and changes his Leg bag, then another comes every 6 to 8 weeks and changes his Suprapubic Catheter.  Being 90 years of age my father is doing a marvelous job dealing with this latter unavoidable on going treatment for his problem. I have to made sure he has all that's needed and buy all things needed for him as in urine day bags, night bags, then catheters.

Dad had prostrate cancer years ago, and had Radiotherapy treatment for many weeks, which cleared him of his cancer. Now the nerves have all gone in the bladder area and around so hence the need for the catheter. So the Radiotherapy did it's job at the time but has come back to haunt him in another way.

Meals on wheels are delivered 3 times a week, and consist of meat, veggies, soup and a sweet.
These meals cost $8.90AUD per one complete meal. Dad hates cooking and is quite capable of doing it, but with the meals delivered and me taking down some food, he gets by.

He doesn't wish to go into a 'home', and it's not necessary as he would be lost in one, for a blind person of his age is much better in his own surroundings.  If the time comes for a 'home' he will hopefully let me know, or I will see plus the people that come to his house will see. We don't cross out bridges until we come to them.

Dad has a good sense of humour and now says he has spare parts that are not any good to him :)
Slowly over the months he is becoming more reliant on me and the Registered Nurses. I see a man of great standing in the Community of his City going down hill health wise, especially since October of last year.

Occasionally a man calls to take Dad to Rotary where he's been made an Honary Life Member, and several years ago he earned a Paul Harris Fellowship.  I say 'earned' because in some countries the Rotary Member pays money to become a Paul Harris Fellow, all though you can also pay to become one here in Australia but it's much nicer to 'earn' one.

So what does dad do all day - not much as he can't watch TV, he can't see it, he can't follow a movie or a TV series or show because the dialogue isn't good enough.  He does like the Cricket so some times he can vaguely see the white ball on TV but that's it.  He listens to the radio, his iPod, walks down stairs and backup again, then down the ramp and back up again for exercise.
There is talk of someone taking him for a drive each week, which will be a great thing, even though he can't see anything but a shadow or faint outline of a figure...we wait and see.

Dad is a JP. has an OAM both of which he has had for many, many years.
OAM = Order of the Australia Medal for Services to the Community which was given to him by the Queen of England.

What's it like being Blind!

For those that not are aware, my dad is nearly 90 and legally blind, has been for many years. Still lives in his two story house alone expect when my husband and I go down every week and sleep for a night or two. Dad lives just over 100 km away. He is able to walk up and down the stairs, on odd occasions comes shopping with me, and his mind - well that is sharp as a tack!

I wrote these words back in February 2009. What I have written is so very true. (I did a post back then), infact I have been blogging for a very long time and have deleted all posts prior to 2009 including many in 2009 and onwards. Thinking I should have kept them there, too late now.

he walked into the room
and sat down on the chair
look out the window and said,
“what a beautiful sea”.
with surprise he said,
“i see that ship, it’s all coloured white, the size of a match box”,
he turned and looked at me
as i sat in my chair looking at him.
the sun was shining bright
glaring into the room
he said, “are you there, daughter, for i do not hear you,
where are you, are you there my daughter?”
i sat there in silence, listened to his words
as he looked straight at me
but of course he didn’t see,
for the sun was not shining on me. 

JMD

The Phone Call!

My blind 89 year old dad has been in a private hospital in the city where I live for just over a week.  He had a small operation early last week, and has been rather ill since, so another operation in the morning should fix the problem making him feel much improved and happier.
Tonight dad phoned me to 'thank me' for looking after him for these past 5 years (since my mum went to heaven)...So I think he wonders will he come through the operation, I reassured him he WILL. :)

The Daisy Reader!

Excitement in the house when the Daisy Reader arrived from Vision Australia for my blind father.
Pay a fee for one year or x amount of dollars per month and, receive the Reader along with 3 DVD books that read to you by Australian volunteers who like to read any kind of book to be recorded.
When the disc's are returned 3 more are received. Book a certain novel or whatever book you like online or phone, and these will arrive when free along with the normal 3. There is a time limit to when they are to be returned.  The cost is free to and from Vision Australia Library.
My father is having great fun and has already read about 5 books in his Daisy Reader. Each time I walk into his lounge room when I am staying there each week, it's SHHHH!!
Some of the DVD'S go for 20 minutes - over 9 hours, of course depending on what or how long the novel/story is.

The purple slot in the front is where the Disc goes.

John Curtin was a Prime Minister of Australia. John was born in Tasmania.

Tasmania Scallops!

Dad wanted some Scallops as they are in season so I bought him $15.00 AUD worth which is enough for a decent serve. The photo shows about 3/4 of them.
He asked me, "How do I cook them?", so me thinking the easiest way for my blind dad to handle.  I told him to make white sauce & add a bit of curry to his taste.  I stressed to him that he must only put the scallops in the white sauce for a minute and certainly no longer than a minute and a half.  Apparently his 'dish' turned out lovely.
The worst part for me was I had to clean the scallops and after scrubbing my hands I can still smell the aftermath. I will get over it :)

I teach my dad to cook and be independent.  It helps to keep him in his own home. I make him 'things' I know he can't do himself.

Dad aged 89 years of age.

Black Swans

Black Swans as are White Swans graceful creatures.  There are many black swans in Tasmania, Australia, and they can get aggressive at times, I know because I got caught and had to run for it...

Life with me has been extra busy.  I have been stopping with my father, then back home again, back to stay for several nights with my dad accompanied by my husband. Then we are off again mid-week to stop again, but that is my life for the past 5 years. I do it because I want to.
Dads health if good for an 89 year old, but of course he's wearing out, lives in a two story house plus has a great view of Bass Strait. It's a pity he can't see!