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May. 11th, 2020 10:12 pmTwo things I forgot earlier--
I've figured out that plus size thigh high socks are good covers for my neck pillows. I have trouble putting them on and taking them off, and there are issues with them pulling the pillows out of shape, but the washability aspect is important. Cotton stockings are also much better able to handle the velcro and other scratchy bits from my thumb splints. I don't like the itchiness against the skin of my neck, but I don't think I'm going to find a better solution.
I experimented with an old pair that I bought on sale to see if I liked them (I didn't). When those worked, I bought two pairs that I hoped would be easier to put on and take off. The two new pairs are easier that way but still not easy enough for me to be able to do it without help (or without doing it over the course of a day or three).
I can get around the pulling the pillow out of shape by tweaking the fabric on the inner side of the pillow. If I shorten that by making folds, the shape of the pillow is better. I just have to keep redoing the folds. Not ideal, but possible. Alternatively, I can tie or pin the ends of the stocking together to force the pillow to pull close. I don't like that because I prefer the pillow looser, more reminder to keep things properly in line than support.
I talked to my mother for a while yesterday, too. She and my stepfather are in Michigan. They made the drive up from Baton Rouge shortly after the quarantine started because they didn't see the trip becoming easier later. They spent the night in a rental cabin on their way up. They've stayed there multiple times before and trust the owner on the cleaning front; they also knew that she was having trouble finding people to rent the space.
They don't currently have reliable internet, just random bits of service that last a few minutes at a time. They're having a hard time filling hours because of it. They don't have paper books in that house, and the libraries are closed.
Mom says that my brother is still working. He's just being very careful about it and isn't transporting clients in his vehicle (which is a normal part of the job since he's supposed to make sure they get to appointments). His boss very adamantly wants them back to business as usual by the middle of this month because he sincerely believes that the danger is exaggerated.
I'd have more sympathy if his argument was that their clients are all at risk for serious issues without their services. That is true enough that my brother is still doing some home visits and a lot of tele-visits. (He's a social worker. His agency provides support for people with some combination of developmental disabilities, mental health issues, and substance abuse issues. The normal work involves making sure that prescriptions get filled, tracking appointments (both scheduling and attending), checking to make sure that clients have groceries and are taking care of themselves physically, helping with transportation, general life management stuff. Most of the clients can manage all of that on their own most of the time; it's just that someone has to pay attention so that, when things go bad, the client can get more support/help and be safe.)
I've figured out that plus size thigh high socks are good covers for my neck pillows. I have trouble putting them on and taking them off, and there are issues with them pulling the pillows out of shape, but the washability aspect is important. Cotton stockings are also much better able to handle the velcro and other scratchy bits from my thumb splints. I don't like the itchiness against the skin of my neck, but I don't think I'm going to find a better solution.
I experimented with an old pair that I bought on sale to see if I liked them (I didn't). When those worked, I bought two pairs that I hoped would be easier to put on and take off. The two new pairs are easier that way but still not easy enough for me to be able to do it without help (or without doing it over the course of a day or three).
I can get around the pulling the pillow out of shape by tweaking the fabric on the inner side of the pillow. If I shorten that by making folds, the shape of the pillow is better. I just have to keep redoing the folds. Not ideal, but possible. Alternatively, I can tie or pin the ends of the stocking together to force the pillow to pull close. I don't like that because I prefer the pillow looser, more reminder to keep things properly in line than support.
I talked to my mother for a while yesterday, too. She and my stepfather are in Michigan. They made the drive up from Baton Rouge shortly after the quarantine started because they didn't see the trip becoming easier later. They spent the night in a rental cabin on their way up. They've stayed there multiple times before and trust the owner on the cleaning front; they also knew that she was having trouble finding people to rent the space.
They don't currently have reliable internet, just random bits of service that last a few minutes at a time. They're having a hard time filling hours because of it. They don't have paper books in that house, and the libraries are closed.
Mom says that my brother is still working. He's just being very careful about it and isn't transporting clients in his vehicle (which is a normal part of the job since he's supposed to make sure they get to appointments). His boss very adamantly wants them back to business as usual by the middle of this month because he sincerely believes that the danger is exaggerated.
I'd have more sympathy if his argument was that their clients are all at risk for serious issues without their services. That is true enough that my brother is still doing some home visits and a lot of tele-visits. (He's a social worker. His agency provides support for people with some combination of developmental disabilities, mental health issues, and substance abuse issues. The normal work involves making sure that prescriptions get filled, tracking appointments (both scheduling and attending), checking to make sure that clients have groceries and are taking care of themselves physically, helping with transportation, general life management stuff. Most of the clients can manage all of that on their own most of the time; it's just that someone has to pay attention so that, when things go bad, the client can get more support/help and be safe.)
