Making life just abit easier

I am all for doing things to make life easier @outlander.

Meds - we have a weekly pick up and I sort Mr D's meds into an am/pm pill box and he uses this. In time I will probably arrange a switch to blister packs.

Meal plans work really well for some people. Others like to have big cook ups and freeze a heap of meals. A healthy diet can make such a difference to ones wellbeing, as can getting adequate sleep.

A treatment plan can be made for any medical condition. Having one ensures both doctor and patient are on the same page. We have one so that we can keep an eye on when follow up needs to happen - with some psych meds patients need to have regular monitoring schedule. Likewise a physio can help with a gentle exercise plan if there are physical limitations.

Yes your GP can help with a treatment plan, probably the best person @outlander if you have a few different conditions.

Working out the easiest way to manage is smart, but probably varies between people.

Meds:

I have had caring role with an gf with diabetes and her pill situation definitely warranted blister packs, but I do not do that at home. I use pill boxes for myself but there is also supplements and fish oil and glucosamine etc ... which can help for arthritis.

Meals:

If pop is fussy maybe the trick is to make him more involved in choosing, planning and preparation. Maybe a regular house meeting to decide ... I never make rigid plans and keep it looking 2-4 days ahead. Whenever I tried making a meal plan for a week there was always so much waste, and this works best for us. It helps me keep meals fresh and I always use up ingredients. Find a few favourites.Every now and then I experiment with new stuff.

Put it back on him to come up with things that work and strike a balance for you both ... Sometimes older people are stuck in their ways ... which can be a shame as there is so much more food available now and wonderful recipes.

Some GPs are better organised than others when it comes to follow up. (With that list of ailments I am assuming Pop has regular GP appts) but having some sort of calendar of what needs doing when might be worthwhile.

Patients with diabetes usually have regular monitoring as well as podiatry appts and the like, osteoporosis is checked every couple of years, then there is the eye specialist for glaucoma etc. etc.

@outlander . Would Pop be amenable to you helping with this?

@Former-Member might have some suggestions as to what she does to make things easier caring for her Dad.

He sounds like he is really old school and stuck in his ways. They are the tastes of a person who has had it tough and compromised and probably tried not to be fussy, and probably worries about the cost of meat.

Its sad and silly as I get that you care about nutrition and food and he is a stubborn boy who is actuallly missing out lots of potential treats. I kn ew old ladies at church who ate like that. To eat Asian was mind blowing for them. I felt upset feeding canned stuff to my family but it was also a way that we negotiated. Then when I knew what they liked I would make a home grown versions which were way better. That way I eased them all into healthy eating, hubby and kids ... phew ... some successes ...

There is that old saying about .. leading the horse to water

I have found bacon and cheese great ingredients to make vegies more palatable for boys ...who think it is masculine to eat meat and no greens. If you have to be sneaky with vegies pop them in.

Last night my son said my salad with beetroot fetta, parmesan, bacon, zucchini, lettuce, capsicum, beans and spinach greens ... hit the spot. Its been a journey and still is.

Could you tease him into trying a few new taste sensations ... dont be a toddler ... come on pop .. you will actually like this ...tinned spag .. is so yukky ... surely the smell of a proper spag bol would convince him to try it ... squeeze vegies into that even if its just capsicum, celery, peas and corn. Authentic Italian style was more vegie than mince .. etc ..