Mom finally settled
"JimH" wrote in message
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"Eisboch" wrote in message
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"Don White" wrote in message
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It's taken 15 months but we finally have mom settled in the nicest
nursing home in the Halifax area. (physical structure anyway)
Congratulations. That is quite an accomplishment and I mean that
sincerely. Hope she (and you) can relax and enjoy the rest of the time
she has left on this earth.
We are going through the initial stages of the same thing, except
there're three elders to consider.
My 80 year old mother moved into the old farmhouse at the end of our
driveway after my dad passed away 7 years ago. She's done very well
maintaining her independence, learning how to use a computer for email
and ordering items on the Internet or shopping for food using the home
delivery service, "PeaPod". Unfortunately, her ability to live alone is
coming to an end, however.
She has a rare form of MS that is very slow progressing, but over time it
robs her of her mobility. When she first moved in, she could still get
around with the aid of a walker. Now, she's confined to a wheelchair
and, unfortunately it's becoming very difficult and dangerous for her to
transfer herself from it to the bath or bed. Last week she fell at 6AM.
She wears one of those "Help, I fell and can't get up" transmitters. It
automatically called both the paramedics and our house. It took three of
us to get her off the floor and back into the wheelchair. She's not that
heavy, but it's like picking up a wet noodle because she has very little
strength to hold on. This wasn't the first emergency call to 911. It's
starting to become more and more regular.
Anyway, she seemed fine until the day before yesterday. She can't feel
much in her legs, but complained about a sore ankle.
Took her to the hospital and sure enough. It was broken in three places.
So now she's in a cast from toe to knee for the next 6-8 weeks.
It's time for assisted living, except I have some concern that she may
not qualify. You have to be able to transfer yourself from the
wheelchair to bed, etc. in most places. I am afraid a nursing home may
be in order, much to her dismay. I really don't know what else to do.
We may have waited too long, having her live in the old house we bought.
Meanwhile, Mrs.E.'s parents are in a similar situation. Her mother has
about the same mobility as mine and needs daily assistance.
Her father suffered a stroke a year or so ago and really isn't all there.
He acts and thinks like a five or six year old. Caring for them keeps
my wife and her sister constantly busy and there's always the fear in the
back of your minds that something stupid is going to happen. The other
day her father decided to turn the self-clean cycle of the stove on, but
forgot to take out a bunch of pots and pans with plastic handles. Set
off all the fire alarms and filled the house with smoke.
We knew this day was coming. It's one of the primary reasons we ended up
selling the properties in Florida and gave up living down there during
the winter.
shutter
Eisboch
We went through the ordeal with my Mom (now deceased,God bless her Soul),
starting with independent living (she had a townhouse which we sold), then
assisted living and finally a series of nursing homes. The money my
parents scrimped and saved, including the proceeds from the sale of her
townhouse, all went to pay for her living expenses. When they dried up
the Govt. picked up the tab.
The nursing home living, especially towards the end of her life, was tough
to see, especially with her continued declining health.
My Dad died when I was a junior in college. My wife's Mom died peacefully
in her sleep (she was still healthy), her Dad some 18 years earlier.
For those with parents still alive and healthy............tell them
everyday how much you love them as they will one day be gone, as with all
of us.
Funny how life reaches full circle. They take care of us in the
beginning and we take care of them in the end.
Best of luck to you and Don in caring for your parents.
Thanks JimH.
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