Is it possible you could edit this and enlarge the font - I can't read it, help!

Wouldn't it be great if just once something worked out just right the first time? Nah, but then we'd be bored! lol Eventually it gets worked out, whether it goes the way we planned or whether we adapt to the cards we're dealt but its frustrating at best. Like Debbie says, breathe. And if that doesn't work, count to ten!

I know I found an edit button but it doesn't let me edit the font size. Then I wandered off for awhile, sorry.

I've been doing the typing on Word in case I lose the post before I post it, and then it pastes differently. On non blog posts I can change it but not here. Thanks for reminding me, I'll ask Sue to fix it.

Thanks Jamie, at least I have some experience and disappointments to learn from; when it comes to aides I've had some doozies! So ground rules will be in place from day one, at least. There's gotta be some good ones out there!

as long as you dont get ramen noodles on the side of the house right ??

For Sandy, here's a workaround repeat until Sue wakes up (no idea what time it is in Australia but I think it may be be the middle of the night?

After Pat's U-turn in January, Ray is finally assigned a new aide starting tomorrow but not at all what we were promised; we were approved for 4 hours, 3 times a week starting 11AM or later. But despite my telling them Ray gets up late (they're not allowed to leave him in bed), they tried to move the schedule even earlier, where she would come at 9AM. No way, that's MY time to get stuff done around the house. I thought older people usually got up with the sun, but apparently it's actually rare. The former agency had the same problem and were always moving their visits up to 8 or 9AM, with 5 minutes notice; they apparently have nothing at all going on then, or at least a lot of cancellations. My dream is to have enough time to go out for lunch with friends or drive farther away than usual to go to some old favorite haunts, for shopping or hiking. Obviously job hunting will be in the very distant future based on the unreliability of help so far.

They are still insisting on this person starting tomorrow, and I said not before 11AM, sorry, so she is coming for just 2 hours until 1PM. Not planning to leave the house this first visit anyway, I mean how much can you get done in two hours really? Not sure if they think this will help me in any way (it won't) wish my gym was open for classes midday but the last class starts by 10AM. So I'd have to get Ray up and ready starting at 9 and that would be a nightmare for both of us. 10AM is the earliest get up time for him, I haven't changed the clocks yet so he's staying in bed even later which gives me a little more time to do other stuff (like today, setting up my mini Spy Cam!).

They just want the money no matter how inconvenient for the patient; however with Ray on Long Term Managed Care if they say jump, we have to jump. We did decide on noon to 4 being optimal and they will "look" for someone else, but since it took 3.5 months for this new agency to get this far, guess I won't be seeing a better aide scheduled to us until the summer is over, if then. What else is new? At least they are trying, unlike the Dominicans, I will say that much for them. I'm hoping we will get someone that Ray doesn't hate (like might be too tall of an order!) and that the socialization will be a big bonus, not to mention I'll get them right on board with getting him up and walking, or taking him for walks in the wheelchairs when the weather gets better. I can only hope!

That was Beefaroni! Yuck. Ramen noodles would have been a pleasure. I do have a photo of it somewhere, when I was considering calling the police about the missing pills etc.

Yes, we've had some winners. Can't wait to tell the new agency people tomorrow my tales of woe, I know they store them away for future story telling fun.

I know I found an edit button but it doesn't let me edit the font size. Then I wandered off for awhile, sorry. I've been doing the typing on Word in case I lose the post before I post it, and then it pastes differently. On non blog posts I can change it but not here. Thanks for reminding me, I'll ask Sue to fix it.

- In your blog, you click on the OPTIONS button in the top right of your post. When it opens, you highlight all your text and then look in the top blue margin of your note and there is a box that says FONT - that's where you click and change it.

You can also do that to your copy and paste - highlight it and change the font before posting.

I don't think it's ever a good idea to get a new aide and go out. I think you have to have time to see if this person can handle them with skill and how they get along. I'm thinking about a horror story Debbie told about an aid that showed up at their house and then his wife and kid and then meds went missing - a total scam. These things need to be approached with care.

Haha Sandy that was MY story. Don't worry I'm older and wiser now.

Fixed....up and about and about to go out. Comment later.

Thanks Sue, as always.

Colleen: we had the same issue - just the opposite. Bruce is up with the sun. I was not allowed to transfer him (he was a Hoyer lift initially). Can you imaging waking up at 5am and being told you have to stay in bed until 1pm?

PT was great and understood. She came three mornings in a row - along with aides Jen or Cathy and our Contractors. Contractors were redoing the bathroom but their Dad had stroked, so were right on board for us. Plus if you are up at 5am, how ready are you for therapy at 1pm without a nap?

A lot of aides work a second job-all of mine did. But because I private paid and had access to all three shifts at work I was able to find people available to fit our schedule. A lot of it also may be picking up kids from school. And of course most of it is the paperwork required.

I agree there has to be someone out there and I just pray that they find them. It is also time to go through the house again and "safe" proof it. Remember you haven't had strangers in the house in a long time - time to do a room by room check.

Just stick to your guns with Ray. He may pout for a while, but hopefully will come to accept it.

And you may have to consider letting them come at 10am and they to help Ray get up, washed and dressed and breakfast. An idea for the back burner. Let us know. Debbie