Congratulations Ken....
on your forethought when you built your new house, including
an area for a future caregiver.I have IBM for over fifteen years and up to six years ago
I was driving myself to work at my office every morning.I
used a scooter to go into the plant to avoid falls among the
machinery, as I would experience a fall 5 or 6 times a month. Then, one evening at home my both knees gave out
together wihout any advance notice, and I fell flat on my face resulting in a double open fracture in my right leg. Following 2 months in the hospital and 3 months in a rehab hospital, I could no longer stand or walk.
Fortunately, I already lived in a house similar to your new
home, but a one floor plan, no basement. I purchased an electrical adjustable bed with air mattress, had a ceiling
lift installed and built a roll-in shower. This was really
great as I could easily be lifted onto my scooter, roll right out of the house and easily visit with my neighbours.
However, as time went on, it was too much for my wife to
handle everything. I had a very good caregiver come in twice
a day, but as my ability to do certain things anymore was
diminishing, such as getting my hands up to my face to feed
myself, shave, ajust my glasses, etc, plus other restrictions, our daughter, a physio living 400 miles away
invited us to move in with them in their one floor house, whch we did, but only after adding an extension to provide
us with a private area for our personal needs, and having
a stone ramp built to the front entrance, replacing the stairs. Hence, the reason for commending you on your forward
looking decision five years ago to do as you did, partcularily to include caregiver's quarters.
When my physio explained to me the nature and results of IBM
over fifteen years ago, I accepted the worse and prepared
myself to cope with it as it progressed, and I believe I have succeeded to do that. As you mentionned yourself, I
find the most disturbing matter is the burden that is placed
on those you are with at any time.
If you are not eperiencing falls, you will, as your muscles
are more seriously affected you tend to lose your balance more easily and gravity takes over, your muscles being too weak to right you. Look where you are walking, avoiding cracks or uneven surfaces, and......
"BON COURAGE"
LOU IBM