There was a time in this relationship when I took over some of his wife's home responsibilities so she could visit a sick relative in another state. This meant, basically, I became a live-in companion/care-giver for HIM... I did some cooking, assistance with personal hygiene, grocery shopping, and more.For me, it was a real eye-opener, because I hadn't realized just how much help he needed in his daily life until I was actually living with him. In many ways, he was dependent on me, and fearful when I had to be gone for a time... I was still working, so of course, there was some time in each day when he was on his own at home.
We would plan for my time away, making sure everything he might need was close by, so he didn't have to be up and moving around when no one else was there.
He would call me at work... though some of those calls were not really appropriate for the workplace. I would hope no one heard the things he said to me... and I always dreaded the possibility of his call during my work day. Yet, during this time when his wife was away and I was watching out for him, I had to be ready for a call... it might be a call for help.
And in fact, one day it was a call for help. He had fallen in the bedroom, and although he was not hurt, he could not get up without assistance. I left work and rushed to his home. But I couldn't get him up... he was a big man. We had to call the paramedics to come and help him back into his chair
