In the past year contact with my mom has been kept to a minimum. Because of her compromised immune system and that I am out in public every day. But that all ended 2 weeks ago. I got all my shots, and as of yesterday mom is 2 weeks after her second. She has a friend who lives close to her, they both have their own homes, that she has been spending a lot of time with. He cooks for her, they watch TV and she has her own room when she spends the night. Mom is 82 and Peter is 79.
But 2 weeks ago I get a call from Peter saying that I need to take my mom to the ER, she is in pain and not getting out of bed. Fast forward the first place we went was to her primary doctor. Not in and say that we should go to the ER. But while there they wanted my contact info and asked if I could be at her appointment in 2 weeks. The ER was useful, gave mom Tylenol.
Peter lost his wife to cancer a couple of years ago, he does not want to be mom's caregiver. I am OK with that, and happy mom had someone to spend time with the last couple of years.
On Monday when we went into the exam room, my RN wife was also there, and mom had already been in there close to an hour. The virtual meeting with the doctor he came right out and said your mom has dementia. She needs constant care. Yes she can bath and use the restroom on her own, but you need to manage her eating and medication. He prescribed a pill that will slow the decline, not make it any better. Couple trips to Walgreen's to fill some others. But the wife sat there for awhile trying to make sense of her meds. Mom has always had an issue taking pills, grind them up and take with applesauce. But there was one, oh I am not taking that one. I do not like it. Why? Oh i do not know, I just do not like it.
So now starts the process of her STUFF. Some I want, some needs to be donated and some needs to be sold. Sell her house and car. My aunt, her sister, is flying out from Pennsylvania to help. Find an assisted living place close to me. Figuring out how to pay and if she can get any assistance. It will be more than her social security check, but she does have some equity in her house.
But I keep telling mom that it is ok if she is confused and cannot remember. We are going to make you life simple so you do not have to worry about all that stuff.
The parent child came from one of the nurses at the ER. She was a good one, very compassionate and understanding. To deal with hurt, sick and crazy people day in and day out and still be that nice. I wanted to thank her again, but did not see her again before we left.
fd
But 2 weeks ago I get a call from Peter saying that I need to take my mom to the ER, she is in pain and not getting out of bed. Fast forward the first place we went was to her primary doctor. Not in and say that we should go to the ER. But while there they wanted my contact info and asked if I could be at her appointment in 2 weeks. The ER was useful, gave mom Tylenol.
Peter lost his wife to cancer a couple of years ago, he does not want to be mom's caregiver. I am OK with that, and happy mom had someone to spend time with the last couple of years.
On Monday when we went into the exam room, my RN wife was also there, and mom had already been in there close to an hour. The virtual meeting with the doctor he came right out and said your mom has dementia. She needs constant care. Yes she can bath and use the restroom on her own, but you need to manage her eating and medication. He prescribed a pill that will slow the decline, not make it any better. Couple trips to Walgreen's to fill some others. But the wife sat there for awhile trying to make sense of her meds. Mom has always had an issue taking pills, grind them up and take with applesauce. But there was one, oh I am not taking that one. I do not like it. Why? Oh i do not know, I just do not like it.
So now starts the process of her STUFF. Some I want, some needs to be donated and some needs to be sold. Sell her house and car. My aunt, her sister, is flying out from Pennsylvania to help. Find an assisted living place close to me. Figuring out how to pay and if she can get any assistance. It will be more than her social security check, but she does have some equity in her house.
But I keep telling mom that it is ok if she is confused and cannot remember. We are going to make you life simple so you do not have to worry about all that stuff.
The parent child came from one of the nurses at the ER. She was a good one, very compassionate and understanding. To deal with hurt, sick and crazy people day in and day out and still be that nice. I wanted to thank her again, but did not see her again before we left.
fd