Posted by Toph on September 17, 2018, at 12:26:54
In reply to Sh!t happens, posted by Toph on September 14, 2018, at 10:07:38
I appreciate the concern and suggestions offered. Part of the problem is my wife is 9 years younger and still working. Justifiably she resents coming home and finding even a single unclean dish in the sink and me lying on the couch. We were both supposed to retire together and share life as we do with each other on weekends now. Healthcare is the main reason we cannot afford to do that yet.
Frankly, my short term memory loss, though not apparently dementia, has caused me to lose a lot of self-confidence in obtaining a paying substitute to the Adult Protective Services work of my career. I do miss walking into peoples homes and endeavoring to improve their independence and safety. I'm afraid short of PTSD I seriously burned out after 35 years of this.
So as many have suggested, I have been tutoring disadvantaged first and second graders in reading in a impoverished community north of Chicago the past 3 years. I am a guardian of a brain injured man who appears to have more of a zest for life than I do. I also joined the Chicago hospice organization called JourneyCare and visit a 95-year old demented woman who is still an artist despite not being able to remember me from week to week.
I think that the reason this volunteer stuff doesn't fill the void is mainly the reason I burned out in the first place. The challenge and reward of social work comes from the stress of responsibility - striving to join the client in fostering trust, empowerment and encouraging independence, among other goals, while as their worker being responsible for their safety.
I won't get pissed if you accuse me of being a whining ingrate. I just thought I should be honest about myself while sharing that I am a little afraid of my mental stability as I deal with the inevitability of losing my older brother whom I love.
poster:Toph
thread:1100873
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20180816/msgs/1100937.html