A Favor for a Friend

A friend of mine needs a favor to help him in his role as a long term caregiver. He knows what he needs, based on both research and extensive experience, but my friend is very shy and introverted, seldom bold enough to express his own thoughts. I am asking for this favor on his behalf.

My friend is satisfied with his daily routine and coverage. Throughout the year friends from town drop in for two hours in the morning, anywhere from two to five times a week. During the cold months an agency companion comes to visit in the afternoon for up to fifteen hours. However, the rules of the agency limit flexibility for going out in the pedicab or datemobile during the warm afternoons. Since these are the caregiver activities my friend enjoys most (um, my friend has a pedicab also, what a small world), he switched afternoons to a reduced six hours of evening coverage for now.

His need lies not in changing his routine, but in getting a break. As much as he embraces his role, what he does amounts to a full time job, more than full time. Most folks take an occasional vacation from their work to recharge. My friend’s longest break in the past five years was a weekend away, which happened only once, over four years ago.

To remedy this my friend plans to take two breaks by the end of the year. One will be a three day weekend during the fall to go hiking, when the bugs are gone and the fall colors are out. The precise weekend is negotiable. The other break will be from December 14 -21, plus a possible day on either end, where he will finally use some of his timeshare days, rather than forfeit them or trade them away as he’s had to do the past two years. As a Connecticut Yankee my friend really, really hates forfeiting timeshare days.

The favor my friend seeks is for a substitute caregiver during those two breaks. She would not be alone. My friend’s oldest daughter has agreed to be with her Mom for the week in December as well. Friends and agency companions also will drop in as regularly scheduled. Even so, the caregiver should have experience assisting with all daily living tasks. While my friend and I provide proof that males could handle such a role, the situation calls out more for a female volunteer.

The need to do this hit home during the recent heat wave. My friend got a break from his normal routine alright, but being more isolated and shut in than in his usual routine is not what he had in mind. If you have any leads or suggestions for addressing my friend’s needs you can contact me. I will relay the message for my shy, introverted friend.