Dad in pain, and somewhat depressed.

Dad did not take any pain medicine over the last week, in part out of a desire to avoid narcotics in an attempt to get in a condition to drive.  However the pain is difficult for him.  I feel it is depressing him as well.  Hopefully the doctor visit on Monday, 10/13, will encourage him to take some pain medicine again. 
Part of the reason for the pain medicine stopping was discovered after more discussion.  Dad fell asleep a couple times trying to arrange his medicine.  So he gave up.  So now Jodi will be doing both Mom's and Dad's medicine setup.  Also, Dad forgot the pain patch application so was a day late.  So he did not bother.

Dad feels trapped and abandoned.  Not being able to drive makes him feel stuck in the house.  However he also said he does not want to be a bother to me.  I told him it is not a bother to me.
He is also getting weaker from his eating habits.
He had not had a bowel movement since coming home, he said.
He decided he could not afford in-home help.
He feels that he does not have enough strength to do the preparation needed for his eye surgery.  So he is planning on cancelling it.

All of this is combining to make him in despair of knowing how best to proceed.

When he left the rehab/ nursing home, he had hopes of taking care of himself.  He is now realizing that is unlikely.

One of the seemingly insurmountable challenges for Dad and I sounds so simple, and yet is not to us.  How should we wash the dishes?  While Dad was away, Mom filled the sink with a heaping pile of dishes to wash.  She was not regularly using the dish machine.  Then it was discovered the dish machine has a water leak, so is not usable anyway.  Dad wants to switch to paper plates and plastic utensils.  However, Mom either forgets or does not agree.  Now there are few clean dishes left, so it helps her remember.  The sink and table is so full that there is nowhere to wash the dishes.  Mom tends to let the dishes soak, so the standing water has attracted small flies, adding to the problem.

The fall-detector pendant necklace I got Mom seems like it might work OK.  However, Mom is not yet in the habit of wearing it, nor charging it.  I also need to reduce the sensitivity some, as it sent me an alert when she took it off and put it on a hard table.  It is good to know that it works, but I do not want to have Mom dislike it due to false alarms.  With Dad there, I do not really feel like it is needed at the moment.  However, if she can get in the habit of using it correctly now, it will be of great value later.

Aunt Vera had severe health issues not that long ago.  Uncle Chuck and Uncle Bob are having their own health issues right now.  So it is a hard time for the Abbey family these days.

For my Dad and Mom, I have hopes that the doctor will give encouragement, and that Dad will accept Meals on Wheels food delivery.