pleasantly confused
August 18, 2006 Ben’s safely checked into a secure lock-down facility- Roo-Lan Lodge at 1524 Carpenter Road directly across the street from the nursing home which was not ANYWHERE NEAR secure enough for someone who can start a car without a key, drive to Camp Murray and successfully impersonate a General. Thank goodness Nancy Mikkelsen came with us yesterday because I was a basket case and had been crying non-stop for 2 days. As soon as she got there I was fine and Ben understood what we were doing and why.
Ben can have visitors anytime and you can call him at 360-455-9159. I’m heading back over to see him but I spent all morning on the phone trying to get Ben the help he needs- everywhere I turn everyone is blown away by our story and they are bending the rules- called ETR (exception to the rule) to try and help us. Everyone is amazed at how well Ben is progressing with what he had happen- he is such an exceptional person and everyone who has worked with him loves him. His chart describes him over and over as ‘pleasantly confused’. Also ‘extremely personable and affable. Good sense of humor, charming, smart etc.’ The gal that checked us in last night was from NYC and she had worked with folks with the same kind of brain injury and she could not believe Ben’s recovery.
The plan is to keep him at the Lodge- which is actually the Alzheimer’s unit (he’s the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree)- until we can get re-accessed for care giving hours- the maximum we could get is 12 hours a day- we’ll know how many hours we qualify for sometime next week and then hopefully I can bring him home.
In a way I am glad this happened because I would never have known that I wasn’t getting enough hours- truly I was just grateful to have any help at all- but Ben requires 24/7 care. The nurses and social workers have told me I should apply for Social Security since I haven’t been able to work in 10 years due to my health problems. I didn’t want to do it, but now I am at least going to apply and see what happens. Thanks again for all the phone calls and offers of help and especially the prayers and positive loving energy you are sending our way- it’s helping. Like my sister Jane says, our feet are planted firmly in mid-air. But I feel like we are in a state of grace and truly blessed.
Ben can have visitors anytime and you can call him at 360-455-9159. I’m heading back over to see him but I spent all morning on the phone trying to get Ben the help he needs- everywhere I turn everyone is blown away by our story and they are bending the rules- called ETR (exception to the rule) to try and help us. Everyone is amazed at how well Ben is progressing with what he had happen- he is such an exceptional person and everyone who has worked with him loves him. His chart describes him over and over as ‘pleasantly confused’. Also ‘extremely personable and affable. Good sense of humor, charming, smart etc.’ The gal that checked us in last night was from NYC and she had worked with folks with the same kind of brain injury and she could not believe Ben’s recovery.
The plan is to keep him at the Lodge- which is actually the Alzheimer’s unit (he’s the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree)- until we can get re-accessed for care giving hours- the maximum we could get is 12 hours a day- we’ll know how many hours we qualify for sometime next week and then hopefully I can bring him home.
In a way I am glad this happened because I would never have known that I wasn’t getting enough hours- truly I was just grateful to have any help at all- but Ben requires 24/7 care. The nurses and social workers have told me I should apply for Social Security since I haven’t been able to work in 10 years due to my health problems. I didn’t want to do it, but now I am at least going to apply and see what happens. Thanks again for all the phone calls and offers of help and especially the prayers and positive loving energy you are sending our way- it’s helping. Like my sister Jane says, our feet are planted firmly in mid-air. But I feel like we are in a state of grace and truly blessed.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home