It has been an interesting week at our house as I deal with insurance companies, home health agencies and in-home care assessments. They want to know all about what is going wrong, what my husband can’t do anymore. They need to hear about his challenges, not his victories, if they are going to be able to help me with in-home care. It has been tough to live in that zone of negativity as I share the difficulties we are facing in my quest for assistance.

First I had to explain to the home health agency why I was looking for a home health aid and where my husband needed help the most. Next I called the insurance agency to see if they could help pay for the services and spent almost an hour discussing which activities of daily living are the worst and why we need the help. Finally we had a nurse visit us from an agency doing an assessment of my husband’s condition for the insurance company. She was with us for two and a half hours and has called 4 times since in working to complete her report. Again, very negative conversations that leave me wondering if it is all worth the effort just so I can get one afternoon a week for myself.

Today I am going to refocus on what is going right. We have so many good things in our lives and yes, I do get to help my husband with different tasks during the day, but it is what we do. Instead of looking at lists of weaknesses, I am going to make lists of strengths. Instead of thinking about where his abilities are limited, I will think about those things he can still do and celebrate his capacity to continue in this fight. I will recapture my positive mindset so I can be here for him as we negotiate for in-home care, just one more challenge in our on-going battle with PD.