'Life after the rehab assistants' by Sue

Monday to Friday my life has been helped by the carer who comes in the morning
since the rehab assistants have left
One visit a day instead of four is a blessing
She chats away, I’m so grateful to God
for the carer who comes in the morning

Since becoming a carer new skills I have learned
The hospital bed is no longer a foe
I’ve mastered the brake
To make the thing go backwards and forwards
without hurting my toe.

Since becoming a carer new words, I now use
slide sheet ,dry wipes ,Proshield spray
Barrier cream and perching stool
Are words I now use every day.

Some words we don’t want to hear
District Nurse makes us shudder
Pressure sores are another
They both are an ongoing fear

When doing the strip wash alone
new words from my husband, I hear
Mind my toes or I’ve slipped down the bed or a phone call early in the morning (he’s downstairs. I’m upstairs)
It’s usually the warning of him saying I need the commode.

New words for our exercise time have come from our Physio Anna
marching while sitting marching while standing
step work and stickwork, high five
Sit to stand is another ankle weights is the other
new words for our exercise time

Since becoming a carer truth to tell I’m a personal trainer as well
Exercise time Trevor hears from me
to delay it he wants a cup of tea
but he knows he’ll keep going
as the progress is showing
or Anna will want to know why.