Questions About Relocating, Living On Your Own, Caregivers

[Steven Edwards]

Non-hypothetical here...

I may be relocating soon, finally taking the huge step to live on my own. The various what-ifs are running through my head, and I think I have most of them covered. The only one that is nagging me is the caregiver issue, but I think I have a solution.

If I relocate, the area (prob Kansas City, MO) has a nursing school. Would it be feasible to offer free room and board to nursing students in exchange for AM and PM care, as well as cooking/feeding me?

I'm usually a fairly stable quad, so they could go off and do their schooling while I went about my business. It sounds good in theory, but I'm unsure of how it would work in real life.

Advice? Experience? :)

[SCI-Nurse]

Is housing expensive there? You may have to pay a salary in addition to providing free housing and board.

Be prepared to have to change PCAs every few months. Senior students usually can get jobs at hospitals, and of course when they graduate they will quit. Also, be prepared to be very flexible in your schedule. If they have clinical at 7AM, they will need to be at the hospital by 6:30A, and that may mean starting at 4:30 or 5AM for your AM routine. You may do better with pre-nursing students (freshman and sophomore year) before they start their more rigourous schedule in junior and senior years. This depends on the school of nursing.

Don't forget to post ads for non-nursing majors (PT, OT, etc.) as well as even non-health professions, and post at the junior colleges as well as the 4 year universities/colleges in your area.

Also check with the local ILC to see if they keep a list of available attendants.

Also, Craig's List has been a great place to find PCAs for many people. Check out the one in that area. If if you have to pay a fee for job ads, it may well be worth it.

Of course no matter who you hire, right now you need to develop both a detailed job description and a contract, and plan to have background checks done (find someone who will do this for you who has access to the right databased, often a PI).

(KLD)

[Leo]

Hi Steven,

I have a 3rd year nursing student working for me, we have visited about this, it is doable i think, she says they really want out of those dorms, run an ad from where you are now and see what kind of bites you get.

i did that and did pretty good when i moved here where i knew no one

good luck and keep in touch

my son lives there

[lynnifer]

I wish you much luck Steven - this is good news!

[betheny]

I think your freshman and sophomores live in Lawrence KS, 30 miles away, where the KU main campus is. KU Med Ctr. is in KC. Housing won't be too high compared to much of the nation. Watch your neighborhoods in KC, it gets dicey quick.

You should move to Lawrence. Fun college town.

My stepmom is on the Kansas State Nursing Board or somesuch. She's a grad of the KU nursing program in KC, many years ago. Let me know if you want me to ask her anything. Sometimes she comes in handy...

[Steven Edwards]

Thanks for the suggestions, KLD and everyone. This is all dependent on an upcoming interview, so I am studying hard to make sure I impress. There's only a slim possibility they will let me work remotely, so I am trying to get things in order if they say no.

KLD, I generally wake up at 4am, so starting my program at 4:30 or so won't bother me a bit. The housing costs seem comparable to other areas.

Leo, I have no plans on leaving CC, so I will stay in touch. :) How long did you use the nursing school students?

Lynnifer, good news but a bit scary.

Betheny, I read the Wikipedia entry on that (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City,_Missouri#Today) and it kinda scared me. I'm hoping to get a location on their paratransit route, but don't know which areas are good there. ETA: Kansas is Brownback country, which does scare me a bit. :)

Off to do more studying. :)

[betheny]

LOL, Steven, I lived in Brownback-land for 30 years, and graduated to Coburn-ville! Terrifying! I have an old friend that's a para living in KC these past 15 years or so. She's not speaking to me just now, but I can get her to make an exception if you need info.

[november]

Very cool Steven; hope everything works out for you.

[RehabRhino]

Non-hypothetical here...

I may be relocating soon, finally taking the huge step to live on my own. The various what-ifs are running through my head, and I think I have most of them covered. The only one that is nagging me is the caregiver issue, but I think I have a solution.

If I relocate, the area (prob Kansas City, MO) has a nursing school. Would it be feasible to offer free room and board to nursing students in exchange for AM and PM care, as well as cooking/feeding me?

I'm usually a fairly stable quad, so they could go off and do their schooling while I went about my business. It sounds good in theory, but I'm unsure of how it would work in real life.

Advice? Experience? :)

Good luck Steven

This was one of my first thoughts when I moved to an apartment in the city. I was going to give up my spare room in exchange for help and gave it a lot of thought.

The reason I didn't was that - even needing a lot less PCA hours than you - I realised that the one person option wasn't enough and was fraught with issues.

Even if you are giving free room and board you are essentially asking that one person to be on hand 7 days a week for a variety of things, including each meal in your case.

Also, what about when they are home but with friends or studying? Do you set specific times when you can call on them when they're actually in your home or are they considered a permanent helper? When can they switch off or go out? It's why spouse caregivers often burn out.

I think it would take a special relationship and a lot of pre-agreement for it to work.

My own advice would be to make money renting out the room to that type of student, or someone who seems like they'd be prepared to help out with non-personal care at a push, and hire PCAs as employees.

You may get a room-mate with a good group of friends you can tap into or someone who becomes a close friend, doesn't mind helping with meals, laundry etc.

[SCI-Nurse]

Actually that may not be the only option.

My mother has a live-in PCA. She does my mother's AM and bedtime care Mon-Friday, and also has a job she goes to from 2PM-10PM at a local hospital. Although she lives in 24/7, she does not do my mother's weekend care. We have another part-time PCA (a nursing student) who comes in for that. Other than the times that we have arranged ahead of time with the primary caregiver for my mother's care, she is free to come and go as she pleases and is only "on-call" for emergencies.

This way my mother's primary caregiver can do what she wants on the weekends, whether it is sleep in and watch movies in her room or go out with friends or spend the night with her mother. It works out well. Just because you have a live in does not necessarily mean you have only one attendant, in fact in my state it is illegal for a live-in employee to NOT have at least one day off per week. Depending on only one person is also a problem if they get ill, have family emergencies, or suddenly quit.

(KLD)

[Steven Edwards]

I can't imagine which would be worse, Betheny, Brownback or Coburn? I suppose Coburn would be more fun since I would be a constituent then and could harass him regularly. :)

Thanks Nov.

The reason I didn't was that - even needing a lot less PCA hours than you - I realised that the one person option wasn't enough and was fraught with issues.

Even if you are giving free room and board you are essentially asking that one person to be on hand 7 days a week for a variety of things, including each meal in your case. Damn you and your realism! :p

In my home, I am fairly self-sufficient.

Once up, I only need help refilling my water, emptying my leg bag, and eating. The first problem can be eliminated by buying more water jugs and having them all filled in the morning. Equipment exists to solve the second problem, and the third I'm sure I can figure out somehow. (Liquid diet?)

Vonage can be operated entirely through the computer, so the phone wouldn't be a problem.

Also, what about when they are home but with friends or studying? Do you set specific times when you can call on them when they're actually in your home or are they considered a permanent helper? When can they switch off or go out? It's why spouse caregivers often burn out. Good points. Basically, the only time requirements would be AM care and bedtime stuff. The rest of the day would be theirs, including friend and study times.

KLD, if you don't mind my asking, does your mother's live-in PCA get a salary in addition to room and board?

[SoFla]

Your needs are not the same, but the situation is kind of similar. My father is 93 and unable to live on his own. Dad's live-in companion gets a small salary. He considers Dad's house his home, and looks after that as well as Dad. He does most of the cooking. He makes sure Dad is showered regularly, takes him to doctors, shopping, and the senior center. All expenses, such as utilities, food, auto and gas, are paid by Dad. Although he lives with Dad 24/7, he is free to leave and do his own thing for hours at a time. Should the companion have a medical emergency, we have a local home care agency ready step in on nearly a moment's notice.

[SCI-Nurse]

Yes, my mother's PCA gets paid a salary, but it is much less than we would pay if we were not providing her room. We don't provide a lot of her food, she has her own car, her own telephone line and cable line for TV and her computer, and of course has other expenses, so I know she would not work for only board and room. We do pay her a weekly (not hourly) rate that she and my dad negotiated though.

(KLD)

[betheny]

Nosy time-Do you have a colostomy? You don't have to answer LOL, but there's one more thing you need assistance with.

Also, factor in 2 weeks a year with no power, and figure what it will take you to survive that. People say global warming is a myth. I'm here to tell you global icing is alive and well in Kansas, and seems to be getting worse.

Maybe I'm dumb to think about that. I'm trying to get my sick father to install a full-on permanent generator setup though!

[SoFla]

You are not dumb to think about that, Betheny. It is a very real concern. I learned during the devastating hurricanes of 2004/5 that we need to be self-sufficient with enough food and water to last several days without power. It is not just weather, either. We forget that we are at war, and could be attacked at any time. Planning for the inevitable is not dumb. It is wise. :gloomy:

Sorry for going off topic, Steven.

[Steven Edwards]

Thanks KLD and SoFla. I was just curious.

Beth, no colostomy, but that falls under the AM care category. :)

[adi chicago]

sorry to ask steven ...do you have family?without my family i was dead by now.i am lucky.good luck and find the best solution .

[Steven Edwards]

Here in Charleston I do. I wouldn't if I moved, though.

[Leo]

hi steven,

nursing student still works for me evening shift during the week, i'm blessed with 3 PA's and a great backup one.

good luck with interview

oh, i knew you weren't leaving cc, we're not walking yet. :)

[Sue Pendleton]

Might want to check out how their paratransit works also. Here we have "ramp equipped" buses for all routes. If you live within a few blocks of a stop you need to show exceptional need for door to door. Exceptional need includes heat and cold intolerance and appearently being over 64. Door to door is wonderful except when snow and ice show. Then I call up and ask if they will run that day. Often the answer is somewhere along the lines of: well.......we can get you there but if it gets any worse.... I tried the ramp equipped buses with my powerchair and a friend once. You have to get on in front and the clicker for one back wheel is halfway down. I haven't tried them recently but even back then I had problems with my chair sliding and it was damn difficult to back down into that space. So if you can arrange door to door, all the better. That's if you have a set drop off and pick up.

Are you planning on renting? Apartment or house? Who does the shoveling and how soon is a big question. Up here they tend to wait for most of it to melt unless we get "the super storm of *insert year*" and then all crews are out drinking coffee.

Kansas City? Must be a great job.

[Steven Edwards]

I passed the first interview and am awaiting the next, which will be more technical. The interviewer said some of their employees use mass transit, so I know it's on their route.

That said, a better potential opportunity popped up in the meantime. If that one works out, I'll jump on it instead. Relocating and snow would still be involved, but it's not in tornado alley. :)

Thanks for the snow tip--I hadn't even thought about that. Cities shut down with flurries here and I just assumed everyone up north worked through it. Chances are I'll be in an apartment, so hopefully snow clearing will be taken care of.

[sjean423]

Most places do work through it so to speak, but road crews don;t can;t always keep up. There are usually town ordinances about cleaning sidewalks, etc. They often state that these areas have to be cleared w/ 12 to 24 hours after the storm stops. Usually office buildings and apartment buildings have staff to keep the area clear, but it is something to consider. In some areas the town clears the sidewalks, in others the property owners are responsible for the stretch along their property.

(ps speaking for New England here ..... mid west may be different. :))

[Sue Pendleton]

In Wisconsin homeowners or apartment owners are responsible for shoveling within 24 hours. That and the mailmen there walk the routes so they refuse to deliver to unshoveled walks and drives after 48 hours. Here it's either the homeowner if they live along a paved trail or have a sidewalk. Supposed to be as soon as the snow ends. Except for major storms no one shovels anything but their own drives. Trust me on this: powerchairs and snow covered walkways, driveways and especially any thing you have to climb over like a 1 inch road to drive bump will leave you spinning real soon. And never use kitty litter with tracked tires if you have carpeting.

Nice thing about door to door is if you get a nice driver they'll actually stick around to make sure you make it in the door or even help with opening your front door for you. Not that they are supposed to but early on I needed just a little help with the wrist turning and had a great driver.

[-scott-]

I passed the first interview and am awaiting the next, which will be more technical.
:beer2:
That said, a better potential opportunity popped up in the meantime. If that one works out, I'll jump on it instead.
:D

[Steven Edwards]

Thanks sjean, Sue, and Scott. :)

Sue, now you have me thinking about how much fun I can have wiping out in the snow. :D

[Sue Pendleton]

Thanks sjean, Sue, and Scott. :)

Sue, now you have me thinking about how much fun I can have wiping out in the snow. :D

Hey, back in my teen years me and the friends would pile in my ancient 1969 Impala 357 and do donuts on the land ice rink downtown. Just wait till around 10 pm so the parking lot was empty and zoom down South River Street and hit the brakes hard when I was about 10 feet past the entrance. DONUT CITY!! Hard to get hurt when all the sides of the lot were piled 10 feet high with snow. :applaud:

Just don't go down hill in your chair while wiping out or you will fall out.:nono:

Oh, and if you won't have fulltime help you might check into one of those "help, I've fallen and can't get up" services. I know. Maybe they have voice activated ones now.

[Steven Edwards]

Thinking of food to eat, I thought about boiled peanuts. Does anyone in the midwest or northeast know what green peanuts are or, more importantly, where to get them? :)

[Sue Pendleton]

Thinking of food to eat, I thought about boiled peanuts. Does anyone in the midwest or northeast know what green peanuts are or, more importantly, where to get them? :)

Your local health food or organic place should know what they are and stock them or can order them. I remember boiled peanuts in RCs down in southern Illinois as a kid.

[Steven Edwards]

Go to a health food store for boiled peanuts? That's almost an oxymoron. :D

Thanks Sue.

[Sue Pendleton]

Go to a health food store for boiled peanuts? That's almost an oxymoron. :D

Thanks Sue.

Like organic chocolate is less of a diet killer than Godiva's? :mega:

[Steven Edwards]

Godiva? I prefer Hershey's Special Dark. Supposedly lowers bad cholesterol while raising the good. Knowing my luck, that rule applies to anything but Hershey's. :)

I'm now contemplating a diet (well, meals) that I'll eat. I have no problem eating the same food over and over, so I'm trying to think of something healthy that I can eat routinely.

I'm thinking of oatmeal and half an apple for breakfast; grape tomatoes, another half an apple, and baked chicken thighs for lunch; and no clue for dinner.

I'm trying to keep things healthy. I'd like to try doing away with meats completely, but my knowledge outside the meat realm is limited.

Any suggestions?

[SoFla]

I suggest you cook up a batch of lentils. This is a family favorite, and, as the story goes, this is a meal that Jacob sold his birthright for.

Bring 1 cup lentils to a boil in 3 cups salted water, turn off the heat, and let sit for an hour or so. Start cooking the lentils again. Saute one chopped onion in olive oil until soft. Add to lentils. Saute 1/2 cup rice in olive oil until lightly toasted. Add to lentils. Cook for about 30 minutes until lentils and rice are tender.

Make a salad dressing of 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, lots of paprika, and garlic salt, and a wee bit of dry mustard.

Heap lentils on salad greens. Top with thinly sliced onion. Pour dressing over the top. Serve with a hard tasty cheese and crusty bread.

[Sue Pendleton]

SoFla knows their stuff. :-) But if you salt the lentil water make it garlic powder instead of gralic salt. During summer I used to cook up French lentils (much bigger than regular ones) and once they are just soft to the bite, drain and run cold water over. Then dice up some tomatoes or the grape tomatoes would work here, and mild vidalia onion. Make a quick dressing out of a half and half blend white wine vinegar and olive oil, sea salt, fresh ground pepper and tyme or yoyur favorite Mediterranean spice and chill. This used to get packed with turkey legs I smoked on the grill for our Saturday bike rides to beer gardens. There we bought the big pretzels and Radlers (half beer, half lemonade). Smoking small things in a weber type grill is easy. Just soak the wood chips first and use a low fire and the meat to smoke goes to the sides. Good way to double duty this is to have a small steak or cornish hen for Friday dinner and as soon as the food is done, rearrange the fire, add chips, add legs and cover.

[orangejello]

I passed the first interview and am awaiting the next, which will be more technical. The interviewer said some of their employees use mass transit, so I know it's on their route.

That said, a better potential opportunity popped up in the meantime. If that one works out, I'll jump on it instead. Relocating and snow would still be involved, but it's not in tornado alley. :)


I missed a few days of this thread. Congrats on passing the first interview plus the other potential opportunity. Sounds like things are falling into place :)

[Sue Pendleton]

Define "tornado Alley".

[lilsister]

Steven, where is the other locale?


Amanda, your big, mean mouse is scaring my puddy tat--the lil' princess is cowering in the corner! Oh, the inhumanity! Deb

[betheny]

Veggie burritos are good, with rice and beans for complete protein. Cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream, yum. You can add diced squash or somesuch to the beans/rice mix if you get over your veggie phobia. Spinach enchildas are delish. I love veggie lasagna too.

[Steven Edwards]

SoFla, nice suggestion minus the onions and all. Cooking a ton of Hop 'n Johns and just reheat a little day-by-day may not hurt, either. My ideal meals will all be things I can just grab from a raised countertop (or something comparable) with my mouth. Oatmeal would require a bowl too, though, so we'll see.

Sue, I'm trusting Wikipedia on "tornado alley". (Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City,_Missouri#Weather))

Deb, I'm going to wait a while before revealing the other location. It's more northeast than midwest, though. (I'd hate to have someone forward my messages from Politics to the RNC and blow my chances, ya know? Oops! kidding!)

Beth, I'm hoping to take that step and try crazy foods like vegetables. :) I'm thinking of peanuts for my primary source of protein if I can eliminate meat from my diet.

Thanks Brain! ;) I'm hoping fears of a recession don't bite my bum when it comes to a job.

[JenJen]

Edemame is a great source of lean protein and you can get them shelled. I can't imagine them being any harder to manage than peanuts.


BTW Pinky and the Brain are my favs....!

[Steven Edwards]

Edameme are protein? Wow, I never knew! Thanks JenJen. They might be good with the right flavoring. :)

Pinky and the Brain are awesome! Toon Disney started airing the episodes Monday morning at 9am EST, with today's episode about PatB trying to take control of tornadoes (Pinky: "whirlywinds") to take over the world.

I'm an addict. :D

[Susan M]

Steven--Pinky and the Brain are my favorites. I knew there was something I liked about you!:p

[Steven Edwards]

Pinky: When we take over the world, can we put it on a giant whoopie cushion?

:D

[orangejello]

Brain: It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob.


(tee hee)

[Sue Pendleton]

How about california rolls? Many stores carry them made fresh daily in the deli area now. Bite size, just have the aide drape a piece of saran wrap loosely over the plate.

If you wind up in or near the alley look for a place near a river. Seems the big wind is afraid of moving water.

[Steven Edwards]

Brain: It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. Pinky: Narf!

Dunno if I can stomach the California Rolls, Sue. I would definitely need to work my way up to those.

Thanks for the tip on the water -- I would have guessed the opposite, being around hurricanes my whole life.

[november]

OJ and Steven, get a room already! :p

[orangejello]

Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?


(good to see you again novi :))

[ala]

Pinky: Well, I think so Brain, but isn't Regis Philbin already married?

...Point!!!

[Steven Edwards]

Sorry ala, I'm Pinky. :p

Pinky: I think so, Brain, but how are we going to make pencils that taste like bacon? Or maybe we should make bacon that tastes like pencils. Narf!

Tonight, the role of Elmyra will be played by november. :D

[ala]

Sorry ala, I'm Pinky. :p

http://www.rr-bb.com/images/smilies/hat.gif

[ala]

Tonight, the role of Elmyra will be played by november. :D

"I'm gonna hug you and kiss you and love you forever"

http://members.tripod.com/renebunny/model-elmyra.gif

[Steven Edwards]

ala, I like you as a friend and all, but forever's a long time -- I dunno if I can make that commitment with you. :D

Additional food option: Boiled eggs -- delicious and easy to eat! Add some salad pickles for a yummy egg salad or maybe slap it between two slices of bread for an egg (or egg salad) sandwich.

[Sue Pendleton]

Dunno if I can stomach the California Rolls, Sue. I would definitely need to work my way up to those.

Thanks for the tip on the water -- I would have guessed the opposite, being around hurricanes my whole life.

Calfornia rolls are just rice around avocado, fake crab meat, carrot sometimes and cucumber surrounded by nori, a mild tasting seaweed wrap. If you like spicey most dip them in soy sauce and wasabi mustard to taste. Call it sushi light. Shrimp sushi is always cooked also.

As far as the rivers it's an old wives tale but you ever hear of a tornado jumping the Mississippi? Tornados form differently then hurricanes also. Just don't live in or near a trailor park. :nono:

[Steven Edwards]

Yeah, avocado and I don't get along -- just like cucumber and me. :)

Random thought: do they make "pellet dispensers" for humans? Think of it like a rat thing, they press a lever and get food. Ideally, I could press down on a lever with my chin and have food (think peanuts, peas, dry cereal) drop into my mouth.

It seems decidedly low-tech and obvious, but I have yet to find one. I have seen the gum-ball machine-type dispensers, but turning the knob would present a problem.

[-scott-]

Random thought: do they make "pellet dispensers" for humans? Think of it like a rat thing, they press a lever and get food. Ideally, I could press down on a lever with my chin and have food (think peanuts, peas, dry cereal) drop into my mouth.

It seems decidedly low-tech and obvious, but I have yet to find one. I have seen the gum-ball machine-type dispensers, but turning the knob would present a problem. http://www.after5catalog.com/images/products/172-06601p1.jpg

fill with whatever, providing it'll flow through the tubing. :D

[Steven Edwards]

fill with whatever, providing it'll flow through the tubing. :D That was an initial thought for getting water, but it seems a bit overboard. :)

[Lindox]

Steven,
Will you have an attendant in the AM and PM?
It isn't really a great thing to eat alone. Perhaps you could look at abledata feeders. That could be used and while you are feeding yourself your friend could be eating also or just yakking her head off.

If you will be out for lunch everyday someone will want to help you eat and on other days a highly nutritious supplement might be best..especially for a veggie freak like you. You can order straws in any size and shape for water and liquids of all types. Just have your friend stick your water bottle and straw on your chair and stable so you can take a sip as needed.

[orangejello]

That was an initial thought for getting water, but it seems a bit overboard. :)

Overboard for water yes but what about for soup? I never thought about that until now.

Well now that I think about it some more, having a container of steaming hot soup atop one's head might not be the best idea :o

Maybe it's better to just set the soup container on a table with a straw...

[Steven Edwards]

Steven,
Will you have an attendant in the AM and PM? That's the plan/hope.

It isn't really a great thing to eat alone. Perhaps you could look at abledata feeders. That could be used and while you are feeding yourself your friend could be eating also or just yakking her head off. I'm thinking of this for snacks mainly, like peanuts during the afternoon -- not so much for meals. (If I have to bug somebody, I'm less likely to eat snacks and such.)

If you will be out for lunch everyday someone will want to help you eat and on other days a highly nutritious supplement might be best..especially for a veggie freak like you. You can order straws in any size and shape for water and liquids of all types. Just have your friend stick your water bottle and straw on your chair and stable so you can take a sip as needed. I'll probably use my CamelBak for water. Lunch will be tricky, but doable. The supplement's a good idea -- thanks.

Is Flinstones a good supplement? :D

[orangejello]

Is Flinstones a good supplement? :D

I am kind of embarrassed to admit this but I like the taste of them. I think I could eat a bottle as a snack and be happy.

Of course I don't know what negative consequences there might be of overdosing on Flintstone vitamins. I can't think there would be many.

Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

[Steven Edwards]

Well now that I think about it some more, having a container of steaming hot soup atop one's head might not be the best idea :o This made me think of Double Dare! The stunts where people had to run back and forth with slime (or something) in cups on their head?

The good old days. :D

I am kind of embarrassed to admit this but I like the taste of them. I think I could eat a bottle as a snack and be happy. :D Many people do like Flinstones, which is why I asked. I could pop one or two of them per day no problem.

Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering? I think so Brain, but Burlap chafes me so.

[ps, sorry about the edit -- I originally clicked edit instead of quote. Oops?]

[Lindox]

OK kids. If Flintstone vitamins actually make taking a supplement fun and tasty for you..go for it.
BUT only use the recommended dosage. I think a child takes two. I don't know. So four should cover your RDA
of the vitamins that are in Flintstones. No ODing on Flinstones you two.

[orangejello]

.

I think so Brain, but Burlap chafes me so.

Brain: Has it ever occurred to you, Pinklet, that your scarf is constricting the bloodflow to your head?


(I had edited it because I was afraid of derailing your thread, which I think is a good one that could be helpful to others too)

I never saw Double Dare. Sounds like a show I would like lol

[Sue Pendleton]

Random thought: do they make "pellet dispensers" for humans? Think of it like a rat thing, they press a lever and get food. Ideally, I could press down on a lever with my chin and have food (think peanuts, peas, dry cereal) drop into my mouth.

It seems decidedly low-tech and obvious, but I have yet to find one. I have seen the gum-ball machine-type dispensers, but turning the knob would present a problem.

Search up an animal psychology center that works with orangatangs or other larger primates. Explain and ask if someone can get you the manufacturer's name or maybe a tech can draw up blueprints of what they use.

I'm thinking bar munchie mixes or honey roated peanuts. :)

[Steven Edwards]

Search up an animal psychology center that works with orangatangs or other larger primates. Explain and ask if someone can get you the manufacturer's name or maybe a tech can draw up blueprints of what they use. Good idea, thanks! (Don't listen to DA, btw. :))

I contacted the primate center in Wisconsin to ask about it. Their primary animal care person was out today, so I emailed her to ask if such a contraption exists (or if she can point me in the right direction).

I'm thinking bar munchie mixes or honey roated peanuts. :) Honey roasted peanuts are awesome, but probably not as healthy as their normal bretheren. Trail mix or even pretzels might not be a bad idea -- neither would M&Ms or Skittles. :)

But -- I'm trying to keep this to a healthy diet, so I'll focus primarily on the healthier foods until my will power leaves me. ;)

Has it ever occurred to you, Pinklet, that your scarf is constricting the bloodflow to your head? Yes! And it keeps my neck all cozy-warm.

You'd love Double Dare. Someone seriously needs to remake that show. :)

[rybread]

I'm a C5 and I've been living alone for a couple of years now. I'm limited to six hours a day of care some of which out of my pocket so I have someone come from 10:30 until 2:30 which gives me plenty of time to run any chores that I have, he lunged and breakfasts and then I don't have someone come back until around 8 PM when I get dinner and get all set up for bed and she leaves at around 10. I'm on a good enough air mattress where I don't have to be turned overnight and on the days when I don't have a caregiver that late in the afternoon, I have someone wrap my sandwich lightly in plastic where I can unwrap it with my teeth considering I barely have any wrist. I do have family close by in case of emergencies but I rely on them as little as possible.
As far as finding caregivers goes I use Craig's list and MySpace to find people. I've found lots of dependable good people that way. There's even a website called backpage which for a small fee will also print your ad.