Thinking back over my month and a half in Sweden, the aspect of my stay that stands out is how superlative my husband’s in-house care turned out to be. Lulea’s caregiving team has a reputation for being among the best in the country, and that reputation is well-deserved. Caregivers from Social Services visited his studio four times a day. They swooped in like angels and asked what help they could provide. If Sven didn’t come up with an answer, they would improvise. Since I was present for the first three visits of the day, usually there was little to do, but now that I’m back in the USA, caregivers make and serve his meals on a regular basis. They often sit and talk to him while he eats. On Tuesdays and Fridays, they assist with his shower and help change his clothes. They’re willing to wash and hang whatever has become soiled or take him outside with his walker. In the morning, they open the lockbox to remove the pills that accompany breakfast. While he’s at the table, they straighten the bed sheets and plump the pillows. I got to know many of them by name. We were surprised by how very many people work as caregivers, a good number of them being immigrants who have spent a dozen years or more in the country. I imagined that perhaps the rotation was conceived so that the elderly do not form too close an attachment, but I don’t know whether that’s true. The government provides this service, which is organized locally. It costs approximately $250 a month. Sven’s alert watch can connect him with a central administrative center that responds 24 hours a day. If he has fallen and needs assistance, a caregiver will show up reasonably soon after the call. It’s possible to order three meals a week, which, while containing no fresh fruit or vegetables, cost only $7 a meal, and can be easily divided in two. I flew Icelandair from Arlanda on Tuesday, September 17, reassured that my husband would receive excellent care while I’m away.
