Caring for the elderly.

[perry]

Lisa:

Sorry to hear of your loss - even if I haven''t checked this thread for a while.

I hope your dad is doing well too.

This weekend I was in Madison to help my folks. It went better than usual (other than the rain - and did it rain, rain, rain again, rain some more, and continue raining all day today - we;re totally soaked around here: Something like 4 - 5" of rain in the last 30 hours; and it is still raining with more on the way: Good think my house is built on the hill part of the town - and the lake is so close to drain water away).

As far as myself: I have decided that I will be switching to part time at work in July to give me time to focus on my health (for about 6 months). That also means a substantial pay cut as I have been living on an OT based paycheck for a long time (and I only get paid partial OT - and then at strait time). But, If I don''t take care of myself at this point... It will not be any easier later.

All, do have a great week - and I hope all of your parents are doing as well as they can be, and all of you are holding up as well as you can.

Perry

 

[Skippy123]

Lisa, I am sorry, I missed this thread; I am so sorry for the loss of your family friend. Hugs and prayers outgoing. Prayers for you dad too!

Perry, prayers for you!

Deb, I have you in my prayers and thoughts too sweetie!

 

[Bliss]

Wow, you are all such extraordinary people.

FI and I have started conversations about our parents. Caregiving... I just can''t imagine what a labor of love that is. It is truly love''s greatest sacrifice and reward all rolled up in one.

May tons of blessings rain down upon you all... and may many angels surround your families.

 

[Ellen]

Bliss, what a lovely post, thank you!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/9/2008 5:47:39 PM
Author: Ellen
Bliss, what a lovely post, thank you!

Very sweet indeed, thank you!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 6/9/2008 6:00:31 PM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 6/9/2008 5:47:39 PM
Author: Ellen
Bliss, what a lovely post, thank you!

Very sweet indeed, thank you!!!

Yes, kind and thoughtful post Bliss!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Hi all, I hope everyone is well. Hugs and prayers outgoing for you kind bunch.

Tomorrow is my mom's hip surgery; I am praying everything goes well. I am trying to stay on top of things for her and I hope her PT, nurses and she does well for a speedy recovery. I just have some goofy fears going on but I am sure everything will work out just fine. thanks for listening friends.

 

[Linda W]

Bliss what a sweet and thoughtful post.


Skippy: I will be sending prayers for your mother''s surgery, please let us know how she does.

Love, Linda

 

[Kaleigh]

Skippy,
Sending prayers to you and your Mom. I wish her a speedy recovery. I know you will be such a huge help to her as she she recovers. Keep us posted, please!!!

 

[Ellen]

Skippers, holding good thoughts for you and your mom. Please let us know how she''s doing when you can.

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 6/10/2008 3:12:26 PM
Author: Skippy123
Hi all, I hope everyone is well. Hugs and prayers outgoing for you kind bunch.

Tomorrow is my mom''s hip surgery; I am praying everything goes well. I am trying to stay on top of things for her and I hope her PT, nurses and she does well for a speedy recovery. I just have some goofy fears going on but I am sure everything will work out just fine. thanks for listening friends.

Skippy -- Best wishes and thoughts for your mother.
I''m actually waiting right now for my mother to come out of the recovery room -- she had surgery today to repair a hip fracture. I''m really worried about her long-term recovery and care but trying to take one day at a time.

 

[Ellen]

I hope she is doing ok turtle. Do you have a facility for her to transfer to until she''s back on her feet?

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/10/2008 7:55:04 PM
Author: Ellen
I hope she is doing ok turtle. Do you have a facility for her to transfer to until she''s back on her feet?

Me too, will she go to a rehab facility after she''s discharged? Sending prayers her way, and a HUG to you Turtle!!!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 6/10/2008 8:03:03 PM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 6/10/2008 7:55:04 PM
Author: Ellen
I hope she is doing ok turtle. Do you have a facility for her to transfer to until she''s back on her feet?

Me too, will she go to a rehab facility after she''s discharged? Sending prayers her way, and a HUG to you Turtle!!!

Kaleigh and Ellen -- thanks so much. We''ll probably be meeting with the caseworker tomorrow to determine the next steps. I''m still waiting for her to come out of recovery ... since she is older and has COPD, she is not metabolizing the anesthetics very quickly and is still requiring too much oxygen for them to feel comfortable moving her into a room. She''s still very out of it from surgery, so they probably won''t be able to assess "how" she''s doing with the repair until tomorrow.

I feel she''ll definitely need an inpatient rehab facility for a while. She had previously lived on her own very independently, and I pray she''ll be able to return to her own apartment where she has friends ... but intensive inpatient rehab is her best chance to make that possible. I don''t want her to be part of the large percentage of people with hip fractures that never are able to return to independent living. I''m hoping there will be space available at the rehab center on campus. My DH and I both work full-time, and we''re the only family in town so we cannot take on the kind of care she will need.

Breathing deeply, and dealing with everything one step at a time.

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 6/3/2008 9:00:31 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Perry,
I feel for you. I hope your brother will step up to the plate in helping you with caring for your parents. In what ever way he can. I know it''s been hard on you. There are other shoulder''s available, so use them.

My Dad had a stroke, found that out from all the tests. Tomorrow we go to the Neurologist, hoping to get some answers. Not a bad stroke, could have been a lot worse, but there is a second bleed in his brain, so am worried about that. His father died of this, so obviosuly want to be as proactive as possible.

He''s still so weak, and his frame of mind isn''t good. The Abilify didn''t do the trick, but am hoping we find the right medicine, soon.


Mom is still wanting to be waited on hand and foot. Dad did put his foot down, and makes her come down and make her own lunch. Oh the horror, LOL. I have no words for her. Once I find them, it''s not going to be pretty.

My concern right now is with him... IN a perfect world she would help, but it''s not a perfect world.

Kaleigh -- I''m so sorry about your father. He is so fortunate to have you as a daughter and an advocate! I hope he''s doing better!

 

[Ellen]

turtle, do what you can, and that''s all you can do. It will be ok, don''t stress.

And please let us know how she''s doing. {{hugs}}

 

[Kaleigh]

Thanks Turtle!!

He is doing better, so yay for him and Yay for me!!! His frame of mind is better, less anxiety, getting stronger. And MOM is helping out!!! We are floored, but not second guessing it. I think her friends here gave her a talking to.

Better them than me, I am chicken when it comes to her. Still waiting for the cat scan results, on the second bleed. But he looks great, and is being a good patient, so no complaints here. Thanks for asking.

Again, hoping your Mom heals well. And is able to be back to her old self soon. Those hip replacements are tough, so hang in there!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Lisa, Linda, Ellen and Turtle, thank you; I will keep you posted.

Turtle, prayers outgoing for a speedy recovery for your dear mom and prayers for you too, hugs!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 6/10/2008 8:44:42 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Thanks Turtle!!

He is doing better, so yay for him and Yay for me!!! His frame of mind is better, less anxiety, getting stronger. And MOM is helping out!!! We are floored, but not second guessing it. I think her friends here gave her a talking to.

Better them than me, I am chicken when it comes to her. Still waiting for the cat scan results, on the second bleed. But he looks great, and is being a good patient, so no complaints here. Thanks for asking.

Thank goodness she is helping out Lisa!!! Prayers on the scan while you wait, sweetie.


Thank you all for your prayers too! Prayers for you Turtle, keep us posted.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/10/2008 8:44:42 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Thanks Turtle!!

He is doing better, so yay for him and Yay for me!!! His frame of mind is better, less anxiety, getting stronger. And MOM is helping out!!! We are floored, but not second guessing it. I think her friends here gave her a talking to.

Better them than me, I am chicken when it comes to her. Still waiting for the cat scan results, on the second bleed. But he looks great, and is being a good patient, so no complaints here. Thanks for asking.

Yay!!

 

[justjulia]

I need to catch up on what''s going on around ps. Skippy, Turtle, and Lisa, I am so glad to check in and see so many positive turns of events (making it through surgeries and on the mend!). Definitely "yays" all around. Turtle, I hope you find a good place for your mother to rehab temporarily-God bless caseworkers, they are angels.

 

[AGBF]

Skippy,

I hope your mother''s surgery goes perfectly today. Turtle, I hope that your mother continues to recover from her surgery. I will be checking in on this thread later. Good luck to you and your father, too, Lisa.

Hugs,
Deb

 

[Linda W]

Skippy,

I am thinking of you and your dear mother today. I hope her surgery goes smoothly today.

Turtle, Thinking of you too and hope your mother is recovering well.


Lisa: yay yay yay. I am SO happy to hear this. I think of you all of the time.


My mom is doing just OK, nothing really new to report. We find out again in a couple of months when she will need to start dialysis, but she is determined she will not do it. She is doing well after her cancer surgery.

Love and hugs to everyone. I am SO thankful to you Ellen, for starting this thread.

Linda

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/11/2008 12:08:00 PM
Author: Linda W
My mom is doing just OK, nothing really new to report. We find out again in a couple of months when she will need to start dialysis, but she is determined she will not do it. She is doing well after her cancer surgery.

Love and hugs to everyone. I am SO thankful to you Ellen, for starting this thread.

Linda

Thank you Linda. I''m just glad you find it useful.

And thanks for the update on your mom. I''m always wondering about people, but am never sure if I should ask or not.

Skippers, I''m thinking about you.

 

[Kaleigh]

Linda,
I have been thinking of you as well. Thanks for the update on your Mom. Glad she came through her cancer surgery well. Hoping the dialysis will go well too. That''s rough. Hugs!!!

Skippy,
I hope the surgery went well and that your Mom is resting comfortably. HUGS!!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/11/2008 7:48:39 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Linda,
I have been thinking of you as well. Thanks for the update on your Mom. Glad she came through her cancer surgery well. Hoping the dialysis will go well too. That''s rough. Hugs!!!

Skippy,
I hope the surgery went well and that your Mom is resting comfortably. HUGS!!!

Well where''s MY hug?? Huh? Just cuz I''m not in crisis mode at the moment doesn''t mean I don''t need one/wouldn''t like one too. *sniff*

j/k

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 6/11/2008 7:53:03 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 6/11/2008 7:48:39 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Linda,
I have been thinking of you as well. Thanks for the update on your Mom. Glad she came through her cancer surgery well. Hoping the dialysis will go well too. That''s rough. Hugs!!!

Skippy,
I hope the surgery went well and that your Mom is resting comfortably. HUGS!!!

Well where''s MY hug?? Huh? Just cuz I''m not in crisis mode at the moment doesn''t mean I don''t need one/wouldn''t like one too. *sniff*

j/k

Miss Ellen, YOU get the biggest hug cause you started this thread!!!! I loves ya, sweetie!!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/11/2008 8:10:44 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Miss Ellen, YOU get the biggest hug cause you started this thread!!!! I loves ya, sweetie!!!

Aw, thanks you! Lubs ya back.

 

[diamondsrock]

Wow, so much going on here! I need to catch up.

Thinking of you Skippy and hope your mom''s surgery went well! Hopefully she will do just fine with her recovery. A friend of mine (she''s in her early 6-''s) had a hip replacement in January and went back to work I think 6-8 weeks later. She was in an inpatient rehab center for a few weeks at the beginning. She is doing great now.

Turtle - best wishes for your mom too! I think hip surgery is very common these days it seems! Hopefully she can get into the rehab facility to speed her recovery. I understand your position with working, etc. You can only do so much.

Yay Lisa on both of your parents! That is awesome. Glad your mom stepped up to the plate. She reminds me a lot of my own mother sometimes. She likes to be waited on as well....that''s another story and the reason why I couldn''t wait to move out of my house years ago!

Linda glad your mom is doing okay. Sometimes okay is the best we can get and we will accept that!

In case Perry checks in, hope you can get your brother to help out. It''s an awful lot for one person to handle, especially if you have health issues as well. Taking care of yourself will help you be better able to help your parents and puts you in a better frame of mind for dealing with the stresses involved in such a job. I hope this all works out financially for you, too, as unfortunately we''ve all got bills to pay. I know how that is.

 

[Skippy123]

Ahhh, thank you for thinking my mom and keeping her in your prayers, they are very much appreciated. It was a long day; they didn''t have a room for her for a few hours but good thing she was out of it. I stayed with my dad the whole day and had him go for a walk with me near the hospital to help distract him worrying if she would get a room. I forget how emotional all this stuff can be; so when I saw her I got teary eyed. She slept most of the day and the nurses were wonderfu; she has a wonderful surgeon too. Tonight she was more awake and aware; I am pretty sure she will be fine. I just love my mom so much and worry a little but she is on the road to recovery and I know she will love it when she can do things she because use to not doing because of her bad hip. I will go back to visit her tomorrow; she has to be in the hospital till at least Sat. Thanks again for the good thoughts Linda, Lisa, Deb, JJ, Diamondrocks, Turtle and other friends!

Turtle how is your mom doing? Praying for the both of you.

Deb, how are you doing; I think of you often sweetie!!!!

Linda, I will pray your mom does not need dialysis, please keep us posted; you are a sweet daughter.

Ellen, I agree w/everyone, thank you for this thread, very comforting. How are you?

Lisa, I have you and your family in my prayers, honey!