June 22, 2016
Well the last two days have been difficult to say the least. So many decisions that had to be made in such a short period of time and all along praying we have made the right choices for mom. As of tomorrow mom will be in her new care facility. There are only 5 other patients there and with mom that makes 6. It is the best place we visited and my sister and I really like Maria, the lady who runs the home. Maria is very kind, patient, family oriented and just a sweetheart. We got such a positive feeling when we were their visiting. Everything and everyone was so calm, relaxed and inviting. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would have to be making these decsions for my mom but here I am doing it.
After the trip to the doctor this past Monday and with the discovery of her dementia progressing at a rapid rate we knew we had to move quickly, I am so grateful that God showed us the exact pathway to Mom's new home. Yesterday I spent most of the day packing up moms apartment and trying to come to terms with all the changes that are occurring. It's difficult to pack up someone's life and try to figure out what to keep, what's important and what to give away or trash. Everything you touch is a memory or a symbol of what and who that person was. They are all things that represent who my mom was and what she enjoyed doing. It's not something you can put a price tag on what so ever.
It was a long day but the next few days will be longer as we prepare for the transition to mom's new home. That's all for now and as always thank you for listening!
Friday, June 24, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
Visiting the Doctors is not for the Faint of Heart
June 20, 2016
I am already not a fan of Mondays but Mondays and a doctors appointment to boot is more than anyone should have to bare! Well it has been just over two weeks since my mom had her fall so today was a check up with her doctor. What an interesting adventure it was.
Her appointment was at 2:30 pm but we had to start leaving the house around 1:10 pm.
It took right about 25-30 minutes to get her out to the car and seated properly (now mind you the car was about a 25-30 foot shuffle from inside the house to the garage). That puts us at about 1:35-1:40 pm. We leave the house to go 15 minutes down the road and about 5 minutes out we had to turn back around and come home, mom had not washed her hands very well after using the restroom. So after that incident we are back on the road at 2:00 pm and got to the doctors office at 2:18 pm.
During the appointment the doctor asked the usual questions: How are you sleeping? Are you taking your medicine? How are you feeling since your fall? Any pain in your legs, hips or back? Mom just gave him a blank stare and then wanted to know when dad was coming to pick her up (please note my dad passed away about 9 years ago so it would be quite a feat for him to come pick her up). After mom's little chat about dad, the doctor, my sister, my daughter and I had a very detailed conversation about mom's well being.
You see mom's decline has hit at a rapid pace lately. We explained to him that she is completely out of touch with what is going on in the so called real world. She lives in her own little fantasy land. Daily and numerous times during the day she tries to find her parents always concerned she is going to get in trouble with her father for not checking in. Now her father passed away over 47 years ago so I am pretty sure he is not upset that she hasn't checked in. We also let him know that now matter how hard we try she won't eat which is a huge concern and that she is not drinking enough water. She has now become incontinent. Her facial features have changed as well with what was once a full face it is now all sunken in, eyes very shallow. skin extremely dry and no color in her cheeks. She doesn't even look like my mom anymore.
The doctor's decision for us today was that mom needs full time assisted care. I was not surprised by that at all, I am just trying to figure out how to pay for it all. You see mom only has her Social Security which doesn't cover the cost of care and her insurance doesn't cover it either. Wow, what a mess. Like many of us out there my family lives pay check to pay check and there is no "extra" left over. I can't figure out or understand why the insurance that we pay for (yes, I pay for an extra supplemental insurance for her to give her better coverage), for her doesn't cover this. It is a medical problem for crying out loud. Oh well, all we can do at this point is pray we find the right place that can accommodate the situation.
Needless to say it was a tough day today but I know in my heart of hearts some way some how this is all going to work out for the good and I know that it will in the end glorify God.
Again and as always thanks for listening and have a wonderful evening!
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Peat...Peat and Repeat
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Greetings and Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads out there!
It has been an adventurous day to say the least with Mom today. But wait, maybe I should back up a bit and start at the beginning.
Approximately 6 years ago my Mom was diagnosed with Dementia (she was 68 years old). Needless to say my sister and I were a little surprised. At the time she was in the very early stages so things weren't too bad. Two years after she was diagnosed she had to give up driving. Mom was on her way home from quilting and got lost, so she parked at the local Wal-Mart, went into the store and walked around a little until she remembered how to get back home. Late that afternoon she called me and said "come get my car, I got lost." I must admit I was very thankful she gave it up on her own and we didn't have to take it from her.
Now fast forward several years later to two weeks ago, Mom started wandering (not at all in her nature as she is more like a hermit). She wandered outside of her apartment barefooted on a warm day and fell. Her neighbor called the paramedics and they came to get her. The only reason we found out is because my daughter was on her way over to Mom's place to make sure she had taken her medicine and the neighbor told her what happened. My daughter called me and I called our two local hospitals to see which one they took my mom too. Once at the hospital to say the least Mom was not the best patient, she was probably their worst one of the day. The nurses were great and after 9 hours we got all the tests run. No broken bones, which we were thankful for but the dementia was much worse and we were told she could no longer be alone.
Now to today my Mom has been in my home for 2 weeks now and we are actively looking for a care facility for her. Her mind is in so many different places that I think I am losing my mind some days. From the moment she wakes in the morning until the time she goes to bed in the evening she does not stop talking. Now mind you I am not complaining as this is part of the disease. Every day we are having to relive the death of my father, which was 9 years ago and that is just a pain that does not go away. Now we are at the loss of my Grandparents. My Grandfather died 47 years ago and my Grandmother 15 years ago. Most of the time Mom doesn't believe I am her daughter and she thinks her and my dad had sons when they had 2 daughters.
The days pass slow while we try to put this puzzle together for mom. My daughters made her a memory book that includes family sayings, family info and pictures to help. There are some funny moments which keep us going for example when mom thought she needed to keep a pair of underwear in her purse or walking around with a heating pad for no reason what so ever.
These are the days of our lives right now but the only way for me to keep my sanity through this journey is to write about it. Thanks for listening and have a great day!
Greetings and Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads out there!
It has been an adventurous day to say the least with Mom today. But wait, maybe I should back up a bit and start at the beginning.
Approximately 6 years ago my Mom was diagnosed with Dementia (she was 68 years old). Needless to say my sister and I were a little surprised. At the time she was in the very early stages so things weren't too bad. Two years after she was diagnosed she had to give up driving. Mom was on her way home from quilting and got lost, so she parked at the local Wal-Mart, went into the store and walked around a little until she remembered how to get back home. Late that afternoon she called me and said "come get my car, I got lost." I must admit I was very thankful she gave it up on her own and we didn't have to take it from her.
Now fast forward several years later to two weeks ago, Mom started wandering (not at all in her nature as she is more like a hermit). She wandered outside of her apartment barefooted on a warm day and fell. Her neighbor called the paramedics and they came to get her. The only reason we found out is because my daughter was on her way over to Mom's place to make sure she had taken her medicine and the neighbor told her what happened. My daughter called me and I called our two local hospitals to see which one they took my mom too. Once at the hospital to say the least Mom was not the best patient, she was probably their worst one of the day. The nurses were great and after 9 hours we got all the tests run. No broken bones, which we were thankful for but the dementia was much worse and we were told she could no longer be alone.
Now to today my Mom has been in my home for 2 weeks now and we are actively looking for a care facility for her. Her mind is in so many different places that I think I am losing my mind some days. From the moment she wakes in the morning until the time she goes to bed in the evening she does not stop talking. Now mind you I am not complaining as this is part of the disease. Every day we are having to relive the death of my father, which was 9 years ago and that is just a pain that does not go away. Now we are at the loss of my Grandparents. My Grandfather died 47 years ago and my Grandmother 15 years ago. Most of the time Mom doesn't believe I am her daughter and she thinks her and my dad had sons when they had 2 daughters.
The days pass slow while we try to put this puzzle together for mom. My daughters made her a memory book that includes family sayings, family info and pictures to help. There are some funny moments which keep us going for example when mom thought she needed to keep a pair of underwear in her purse or walking around with a heating pad for no reason what so ever.
These are the days of our lives right now but the only way for me to keep my sanity through this journey is to write about it. Thanks for listening and have a great day!
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