Good thread!!Alot of good ideas I could use. Everyday something seems to get worse. I am now using a cane but I think a walker would be better. With the weather getting warmer I won't have to worry about cooking. Bagged salads and sandwiches will get me through along with covering the major food groups.

Mochagirl, I thought you wrote "magic food groups." It took me half a millisecond to come up w chocolate but I did wonder what else is in that category.

Sorry for this interruption.
ANN

Yes Mocha, I didn't mention the initial changes, I made along the way. From Walking Unassisted, to cane, to walker, to Scooter.
I lurved my new wheeled walker w/seat. The freedom of walking without the fear of falling with every step.

The freedom it gave me was awesome. I'd just throw it in my car and off I'd go shopping or whatever and when I got tired, would turn it around and sit down. I was the envy of everyone standing in line.

Do get one, you won't be sorry. My Ins. covered it. I got a hoopdydo one, so I may have had to pay some?

I got a Rollator with a seat....sort of as a just-in-case type thing. I use my cane all the time and haven't needed to use the Rollator......yet. I could have used it after I had surgery and that's what prompted me to go ahead and get one. Don't want to wait till I really need it and not have it.

I guess I would define "accommodations" at least three different ways. I'm not sure what the category titles would be, but:

1. would be equipment, such as my walker, my toilet rail, my reacher/picker in several places in the house, a flashlight in every room, etc.

2. would be putting my water in a mug instead of a tumbler so I'm less apt to drop it.

3. would be ANYTHING I do or don't do to be stingy with my "spoons", such as shopping less often, washing my hair less often, saying "no" far more often.

The more I think about it, my whole life is now about accommodation.

I only blow dry my hair a couple of times per year. I just can't take the heat and my arms don't have the necessary strength to hold the dryer up for the entire time. Good thing I have naturally wavy/curly hair. I just add some product, scrunch and then air dry. The hair dresser is given very specific instructions that the cut can't require blow drying.

If the clothing needs to ironed I don't wear it. A disproportionate amount of my wardrobe comes from Mark's Workwear House b/c it can all go in the dryer and doesn't need ironing.

Bagged salad only. Precut/peeled baby carrots. Presliced pickles. Frozen veggies. An embarassing amount of prepared frozen foods. I keep the pantry, back up pantry and deep freezer VERY stocked. That way if I'm not feeling great I don't have to go grocery shopping.

On the shopping vein, I shop all year round for Christmas, birthdays, etc. I buy stuff as I find it when I'm feeling good. It's way less stressful, cheaper and I don't have to worry about getting stuff at the last minute if I'm not feeling well. I've been known to purchase Christmas gifts in the spring. I also keep lots of wrapping suppiles and cards at home.

My yard is landscaped with low/no maintenance perennials only. Lots of day lillies. I buy a couple of pre-done annual baskets at the beginning of summer. My husband cuts the lawn and does the snow shovelling.

Online banking and some online shopping.

And most important - CLEANING LADY!! She also changes the sheets as I find that very tiring. I still have to do pick up and light maintenance cleaning between visits, but I don't do any deep cleaning.

I stay disgustingly organized so I can get things done when I'm feeling good. That way I can do very little past the basic necessities when I'm not feeling well.

I have a cleaning lady, too. Felt really guilty about it at first but now I don't. I've tried doing it all myself and I just can't anymore. Like you, I keep things reasonably clean between visits and leave the deep cleaning to her. It's as important an item in my budget as medication.

My christmas shopping is mostly done for 2012. I shop the after Christmas specials, and keep a list of b/days. I make my own computer cards, so I dont have to dash out to buy one if I notice someone has a b/d coming up. I have a drawer in my bedroom full of trinkets that can be used as male or female gifts. I dont buy things that can smell or be broken easily.

its amazing how many changes I made in my daily life.