The Dr.'s Directives

No driving. No staying home alone. Wear a “safe return” bracelet. Go for brain therapy two or three times a week. Have some home health kind of help two or three times a week (did I forget to mention that one earlier?). Take the medication consistently. Change the powers of attorney. There it is—in a nutshell! It took up five lines of typing.

However, as I write this, in two more days it will be a year since we first received those instructions. Pop has taken Mom to an appointment with Dr. Tee several times during the year, and each time the doctor has questioned the two of them, plus whichever sister went with them, concerning the implementation of her suggestions. After each visit she has reiterated the importance of following this plan.

The first thing to “not work” was the bracelet. I ordered it soon after the first request, received it in the mail, and took it to Mom. I was told later that when I left Mom asked Pop to remove it because it was too tight and very uncomfortable. So he did. As far as I know, she has never worn it.

Fortunately, she has only wandered up the street once that we know of, and she came back home fairly quickly. But the accommodating of her (in order to keep her calm and happy) is part of what has been so frustrating. On the other hand, if I were there 24/7, I might also choose to accommodate, rather than endure her wrath when she becomes so upset. For the record, they are about the same age, so he, of course, has several of his own issues with which to deal.