Seven years ago, my lover was hit by a devastating form of Guillaine-Barre Syndrome (paralyzed from the neck down), was hospitalized for 8 1/2 months, and needs care now. He is 62, and I am 75. While he was in hospital, I went there every day from work at lunch, then back to work, then back for dinner, to feed him. During that time, we were trying to deal with his mother's will, and all the banking and other legal issues pertaining. You can't imagine how hard all that is with just a power of attorney, and him having no ability to sign anything (we had to hire a mobile Notary to come to the hospital a few times). After the 8 1/2 months in hospital, he came home. I had had the bathroom redone so he could use it, bathe and so forth.
I have, of course, been his caregiver through all that, while still working. I know how hard it is, and you both have my my sympathy and my admiration for what you are doing.
What I did find, though, is that I could persuade a few friends to come by from time to time, so that I could go out, and that worked really well. It had the advantage of giving him somebody besides me to talk to -- that's gotta be a big relief in itself!
You would be amazed at how well that can work -- just having those hours to yourself, to do what you wish. Go to a movie, a gallery, the pub to chat with friends -- anything at all. And it gives you the chance to re-energize so that you can carry on.
And yes, the cheesecake helps. Ever tried pumpkin cheesecake? Yummy!
