Hello
I know and my husband knows that keeping active is absolutely key to maintaining his quality of life and keeping as much independence as he can, but he has had repeated hospitalisations and, after each, it is a real struggle to motivate him to build his activity levels again. He is always up and dressed in the mornings, which is great but there are days when he just wants to come downstairs and then recline in his chair all day and I feel that I am nagging him to sit up, take some deep breaths or do something other than doze. The trouble is that the less he does the less he wants to do, and, very quickly, the less he is able to do. I understand how difficult this is for him, and I understand his frustration, but I also know how much his mental health is tied into his being able to maintain some basic activity.
Selfishly, I feel that when he has these phases, my workload increases as if he doesn't stay active or put in the effort to rebuild his activity levels he quickly deconditions and can walk less far without becoming tired and breathless which leaves me pushing the wheelchair more :) .
More seriously he risks fluid on his lungs and other complications. He is terminally ill but on active treatment which, against the odds, is working well, I know that I must lose him but really don't want that to be hastened. Plus if he has an " I'm comfortable here (dozes off again)" day, it easily becomes a pattern, also on those days he eats and drinks less and, again, I feel I'm nagging as he has to stay hydrated and nourished, not least because of all the meds he is on and it's a struggle to support him to regain lost weight after hospitalisation and to maintain his weight at a reasonable level.
Equally seriously, he wants to be at home and to sleep upstairs and bath and keep things as "normal" as possible and that means keeping his mobility as good as possible,
A pep talk from the physios works wonders but they can't be doing that all the time and I can't be nagging all the time, and of course it is winter and hibernation mode is something many of us get into but this isn't just about outdoor exercise, just sitting up and standing up and pottering about does wonders.
Does anybody have any bright ideas?