![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Domestic nonbliss...
Nov. 9th, 2023 08:52 pmWell, it has certainly been a week, even though it's not quite done yet. Not long after my previous post, I got blindsided by Jana's main PCA, who made the decision to report her to the county as "a vulnerable adult" who cannot be left to wander unsupervised. Which is all well and good and I don't entirely disagree with this assessment, but I also need to keep working all 3 of my jobs (day job, publisher, author/instructor/etc.) or our house of cards collapses abruptly. Super difficult to be a full time babysitter while doing all of that. But despite this, I didn't object to the assessment, just the not warning me first part. Also, I'm paying out of pocket for their time so more time + more money (we have come to a temporary arrangement about this in the meantime, once I stopped yelling).
That same day, the respite care company that I thought I was coming to an agreement with about taking care of J while I went to Capricon announced they didn't have staff that could cover that many shifts, and who weren't afraid to go into Minneapolis and weren't allergic to cats. And, while I might bristle at the whole "scary, scary Minneapolis," my friend and I were carjacked at gunpoint on this very block last summer and we now have a small homeless encampment in the community garden up the alley. Thus far, the latter is pretty quiet and mellow, but it may not stay that way and even your average white urbanite is prone to have the vapors when one appears nearby. At any rate, I don't have any immediate solutions to offer but at the same time, cannot in all honesty respond with, "But it's perfectly safe!"
Now mind you, I also haven't had a reprieve from caregiving (which I am not particularly suited for, let it be said) for 2 solid years and change. The last time was when one of her friends flew her out to Utah for a week. Her condition is also definitely deteriorating, which means that I cannot contemplate putting her on a plane and sending her back for a visit. The social worker that I'm working with is now recommending memory care. Which she is not wrong about. But despite legal assistance and 9 months worth of jumping through hoops, we still haven't gotten the CADI waiver which would pay for memory care (realistically, I can't afford any place that doesn't take it).
So what does this mean? Well, next week, I'm touring a memory care facility. And I'm talking to a new respite care company. 5 days of going to Capricon by train, with a bit of travel leeway for winter = 5 days of 24 hour coverage at home = $5000. Possibly plus overtime. My original estimate was $3000. Queue screaming into the void. So what am I going to do? Meet with them, tour places and get something set up, somehow. Not sure what that will be, but will be pursuing all options. Because even I recognize that my health can't handle too much more of this. And I want to go be a rockstar in the Chicago for a few days, dammit.
On the brighter side, lovely friends and acquaintances have gotten me to 59% of my original fundraiser goal, which is a HUGE help (thank you!). My manager at the day job is trying to extend my contract so fingers crossed on that. Even 6 months would help. And I'm publishing Melissa Scott's Astreiant Series next year! Wildly excited about that, especially since she's working on a brand shiny new novella for it. And I was mighty this week and finally did my at home colon cancer screening, scheduled an appointment with our new dentist to have my persistence gum pain looked at, got our backyard maple worked on (it's getting rootbound, but our tree guy thinks he can save it), got our furnace tuned and got the yard cleaned up for winter. Next up, the locksmith to deal with some issues. At any rate, wish me luck. I'm going to need it.
That same day, the respite care company that I thought I was coming to an agreement with about taking care of J while I went to Capricon announced they didn't have staff that could cover that many shifts, and who weren't afraid to go into Minneapolis and weren't allergic to cats. And, while I might bristle at the whole "scary, scary Minneapolis," my friend and I were carjacked at gunpoint on this very block last summer and we now have a small homeless encampment in the community garden up the alley. Thus far, the latter is pretty quiet and mellow, but it may not stay that way and even your average white urbanite is prone to have the vapors when one appears nearby. At any rate, I don't have any immediate solutions to offer but at the same time, cannot in all honesty respond with, "But it's perfectly safe!"
Now mind you, I also haven't had a reprieve from caregiving (which I am not particularly suited for, let it be said) for 2 solid years and change. The last time was when one of her friends flew her out to Utah for a week. Her condition is also definitely deteriorating, which means that I cannot contemplate putting her on a plane and sending her back for a visit. The social worker that I'm working with is now recommending memory care. Which she is not wrong about. But despite legal assistance and 9 months worth of jumping through hoops, we still haven't gotten the CADI waiver which would pay for memory care (realistically, I can't afford any place that doesn't take it).
So what does this mean? Well, next week, I'm touring a memory care facility. And I'm talking to a new respite care company. 5 days of going to Capricon by train, with a bit of travel leeway for winter = 5 days of 24 hour coverage at home = $5000. Possibly plus overtime. My original estimate was $3000. Queue screaming into the void. So what am I going to do? Meet with them, tour places and get something set up, somehow. Not sure what that will be, but will be pursuing all options. Because even I recognize that my health can't handle too much more of this. And I want to go be a rockstar in the Chicago for a few days, dammit.
On the brighter side, lovely friends and acquaintances have gotten me to 59% of my original fundraiser goal, which is a HUGE help (thank you!). My manager at the day job is trying to extend my contract so fingers crossed on that. Even 6 months would help. And I'm publishing Melissa Scott's Astreiant Series next year! Wildly excited about that, especially since she's working on a brand shiny new novella for it. And I was mighty this week and finally did my at home colon cancer screening, scheduled an appointment with our new dentist to have my persistence gum pain looked at, got our backyard maple worked on (it's getting rootbound, but our tree guy thinks he can save it), got our furnace tuned and got the yard cleaned up for winter. Next up, the locksmith to deal with some issues. At any rate, wish me luck. I'm going to need it.
