So, you want to hear about my latest project? I have undertaken the task of cleaning my dad's house. I haven't been working, so I decided a good way to use my time would be to get his house in order and in a safer and more healthy condition. I wonder now what the hell I was thinking.
The first day, I spent over an hour cleaning just the main bathroom. It was filthy: the toilet was covered with feces and it took half an hour just scrubbing it to get it clean. I was on my hands and knees washing the floor and even had to wash down the walls because they somehow had poop on them in places. The mountain of used Depends nearly filled a kitchen trash bag and there was all kinds of clutter covering the counter. I tried to convince him to stop keeping urinals by his chair and bed, but he said he needed them. I told him he at least needed to empty them and not leave them sitting out. The Pie could very easily get a hold of them and that thought just sickens me.
So on to the kitchen, where I spent nearly 4 hours. I filled 3 of the 30 gallons trash bags with old food, used tea bags, egg shells, coffee grounds and other unidentifiable items that covered the counters and table. I washed down the counters and the appliances on them as well as scrubbed the sink and did the dishes that were marinating in funky water there. For weeks, he has had 3 fans pointed at the dining table to blow away the bugs that swarmed around it and it disgusted me. I refused to eat anything that was prepared in that kitchen and the Pie was not allowed to walk barefoot in there for fear of her stepping on God knows what!
I started to move on to laundry but Dad said his washer was leaking pretty badly, so I decided to gather it up and bring it home with me. As I was getting it together, I found 2 towels that were covered in dried feces and I discovered later that there were ants and bugs in his laundry basket which I have now introduced into my new house (that really pissed me off)!
I want to help him live in a more healthy environment, but what I don't understand is how he can stand to live in those squallid conditions! He used to rage at my mother for not keeping a clean house and it was NEVER anywhere near the current condition. My thoughts were that if I got everything cleaned, it would be easier for him to keep up with, but I haven't seen any evidence that he is even trying! When I left last Wednesday, the toilet was so clean you could eat off if it and when I was there on Sunday, it had poop all over it again! And the kitchen again had dirty dishes and food sitting out.
What I fear is that he has just given up. He doesn't bathe on a regular basis and when he wants me to cut his hair, I make him wash it first. The cellulitis on his leg is getting worse and about once a month, I have to cut his toe nails and finger nails for him. He finally got hearing aids, but he hardly ever wears them. I've threatened not bringing the Pie there to visit, but that seems to make no impact on him. Sometimes I feel like I am raising 2 kids; one is 3 and lives with me and the other is 81 and lives 20 miles away.
Every time we go out there, the Pie says, "Mama, it stinks in here!" and I just don't know what to say to her. There were "skid marks" on his recliner and she refused to sit in it with him. Even SHE knew it was not a chocolate ice cream stain...I feel like I should threaten him with a nursing home if things don't improve. I just don't know what else to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment