A big responsibility I have at home is managing my grandmother's medicines and medical appointments. I'm a twenty-four-year-old customer service agent in Quezon City, and I live with my parents and my lola, which is what we call our grandmother.
I took it on about two years ago, after she had a minor stroke. My mum works long hours as a nurse, often on night shifts, and my father isn't very organised, so the family sort of agreed, without much discussion, that I'd handle it. I'm the one who likes lists and spreadsheets, so it made sense.
It involves quite a lot. Every Sunday I sort her tablets into a weekly box with little compartments for morning, afternoon and night. I keep a notebook with her blood pressure readings, and I set reminders on my phone for her check-ups. When she sees the doctor, I go with her, ask questions and make sure we understand any changes. I also have to keep an eye on her stock of medicine and reorder before it runs out.
My feelings are mixed but mostly positive. Sometimes it's tiring, especially when my own work is stressful, and I've had to miss a few nights out with friends. There was one week when I mixed up two tablets and felt terrible, although luckily nothing happened. But overall I feel proud. My lola looked after me when I was small, so it feels right to look after her now. It's also made me more mature. I'm calmer in emergencies, and I've learned to speak confidently to doctors, which I'd never have done before.