DEMENTIA CARE. THAT AWFUL FUCKING BALANCING-ACT.

In writing a book on dealing with dementia-care, it took me about a minute to conclude that the big problem with caring is the same big problem for everyone.
   Not an increased coffee-intake.
   It's that awful fucking balancing-act: trying to maintain a sense of normality, of routine, without taking everything away.
   Arranging things for the convenience of all concerned doesn't automatically translate into taking everything away.
   It shouldn't.
   Be wary.
   So what did I change? More online stuff. Things that could normally be picked up in a shop are now purchased across the digital airwaves.
   And that's convenient. It doesn't take anything positive away - things are still purchased. The sheer physical hassle departs. And there's a definite digital record of purchases, as a bonus.
   The receipt is time-stamped on a cloud of data.
   Purchases are still discussed. We talk over buying things, thanks to the online component. Payment options shifted, more and more, to online anyway. The last few cash holdouts are fading fast. This isn't difficult. It's normal, and has been for ages.
   Even for the elderly.
   Mild winters are almost cosy. Harsh winters are rare, fierce, beasts. I must plan for bad weather if I'm to plan for anything. Even as the sun doth shine. So. The worst possible weather is countenanced, when pondering purchases. Why struggle with the struggle of buying things?
   Take nothing away, except hassle. Plan for winter in summer.
   Postal voting. Voting is still available. Nothing positive was removed in making that switch. The sheer legal hassle departs. You don't want to cross swords with electoral law in the voting-place, when assisting a confused voter.
   Medicine is still regulated. But arranging online repeat prescriptions takes nothing positive away from the process. The detour to the middle-merchant is gone. Time saved.
   The old method was to head to the doctor's and stand in a queue to arrange the repeat script. Then you'd return to fight through queues another day, just to pick up the confirmation script. And that would be ferried along to a pharmacy. More queues, followed by actual dedicated waiting for the alchemist to mortar and pestle up a medicinal brew.
   Update. Click click click on the internet. A message pops up to tell you when the brew is done. One trip for the medicine replaces three trips. In winter, mild or harsh, that saving is valuable.
   Fuck it. Invaluable.
   Needless journeys are slashed. Services remain services. It's tempting to set up everything on the internet. And you should. Provided you aren't taking anything positive away.
   Choice remains. If choice improves, seize the improvement. You will find some things can't be done over the internet. Dental inspections are always going to be inconvenient - there's a rule about that.