Caring for the elderly.

[Skippy123]

Big hugs to you Linda, Lisa, Justjulia and Ellen.

I hope your mom starts eating more Ellen.

Lisa, I hope your dad is doing better, hugs.

 

[justjulia]

That''s good news, Ellen. I guess that is why there are "senior plates" at restaurants? I got so programmed for anything new to automatically mean trouble w/ my own mother, I''ve forgettem that some things are just normal for aging folks.
It''ll be interesting at the dr visit coming up. I wonder what they''ll say.

Thanks Skippy for the good vibes.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/16/2008 6:35:15 PM
Author: justjulia
That''s good news, Ellen. I guess that is why there are ''senior plates'' at restaurants? I got so programmed for anything new to automatically mean trouble w/ my own mother, I''ve forgettem that some things are just normal for aging folks.
It''ll be interesting at the dr visit coming up. I wonder what they''ll say.

Thanks Skippy for the good vibes.

I''ve not heard of/seen those, but I would guess maybe so. And yeah, I''m really interested to see what this test says. Will let ya know.


Thanks skippers!

 

[Linda W]

Julia: DH and I order senior plates at restaurants if they have them. LOL.

Ellen, My mom doesn''t eat much any more either and it really bothers me. I cook a lot before we visit her, so she has homemade food and all she does is pick at it.
I will be anxious to hear how your moms tests come out Ellen, I imagine you will too.


Skippy: How is your mom doing sweetheart???


Lisa: I am so glad, your dad isn''t bothering you anymore, you have enough on your plate as it is.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/17/2008 12:31:20 PM
Author: Linda W

Ellen, My mom doesn''t eat much any more either and it really bothers me. I cook a lot before we visit her, so she has homemade food and all she does is pick at it.
I will be anxious to hear how your moms tests come out Ellen, I imagine you will too.

I think part of mom''s problem, along with loss of appetite, is that being legally blind makes cooking a real challenge. And understandably so.

It''s funny, she went away last weekend to some annual get together for the blind. I asked her how it went, and she went on about how nice it was to have people around all the time, and she didn''t have to cook at all or clean. I felt like saying, you''re talking assisted living right there. But, I didn''t, she doesn''t seem to want to entertain that thought right now.

 

[justjulia]

Ellen,
Appointment''s tomorrow, right?
I hope it goes well.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/19/2008 8:22:51 PM
Author: justjulia
Ellen,
Appointment''s tomorrow, right?
I hope it goes well.

Well she had an appt., but I was wrong about which one. Seriously, she has had an insane amount of appts. lately, and we''re far from done. Anywho, today was the oral surgeon, the mental test is next Monday. Sorry about that, and thanks. I''ll let you know how it goes.

 

[justjulia]

Well that''s good that the oral surgeon is done. Maybe eating will be more enjoyable after all this?
You are being a good daughter, running around to all these appointments like this.

Sigh. Time for an oreo and hot chocolate.

 

[Kaleigh]

HUgs Ellen, you are being such a trooper. I hope your Mom can eat some more after seeing the oral surgeon. I know how they loose their appetite, happened to my Nanny, and is going on with my parents. But all is good on my front for right now. Sending all my strength to YOU.

 

[justjulia]

Date: 10/20/2008 9:04:54 PM
Author: Kaleigh
HUgs Ellen, you are being such a trooper. I hope your Mom can eat some more after seeing the oral surgeon. I know how they loose their appetite, happened to my Nanny, and is going on with my parents. But all is good on my front for right now. Sending all my strength to YOU.

Good to hear good things at your end.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/20/2008 8:02:20 PM
Author: justjulia
Well that's good that the oral surgeon is done. Maybe eating will be more enjoyable after all this?
You are being a good daughter, running around to all these appointments like this.

Sigh. Time for an oreo and hot chocolate.

lol Indeed (possibly spiking the hot chocolate). Thanks julia. And yes, she now has a permanent partial on the bottom, and a temp on the top until the permanent is ready. So hopefully she can start eating some things she couldn't before.

Lisa, thank you for the strength, I need that.

And I'm glad to hear things are going well for you!

 

[justjulia]

So, like I went google image hunting for anything "peaceful" and I found this print by an artist -kimberly vennes. Thought I''d share. Seems so "take me away-ish" doesn''t it?

 

[Ellen]

It does julia, reminds me of happier, carefree days. *sigh* Thanks you!

 

[Ellen]

Just weighed mom and she''s gained 2 lbs., so we''re going in the right direction now hopefully!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/21/2008 6:20:54 PM
Author: justjulia
So, like I went google image hunting for anything ''peaceful'' and I found this print by an artist -kimberly vennes. Thought I''d share. Seems so ''take me away-ish'' doesn''t it?

That is gorgeous Justjulia, thanks for sharing!!!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/24/2008 5:54:51 PM
Author: Ellen
Just weighed mom and she''s gained 2 lbs., so we''re going in the right direction now hopefully!

Great news Ellen

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/17/2008 12:31:20 PM
Author: Linda W

Julia: DH and I order senior plates at restaurants if they have them. LOL.

Ellen, My mom doesn''t eat much any more either and it really bothers me. I cook a lot before we visit her, so she has homemade food and all she does is pick at it.
I will be anxious to hear how your moms tests come out Ellen, I imagine you will too.


Skippy: How is your mom doing sweetheart???


Lisa: I am so glad, your dad isn''t bothering you anymore, you have enough on your plate as it is.

She is great thank you Linda. How is your mom? I am thinking of you both.

 

[justjulia]

Date: 10/24/2008 5:54:51 PM
Author: Ellen
Just weighed mom and she''s gained 2 lbs., so we''re going in the right direction now hopefully!

 

[Ellen]

Thanks guys!

Skippy, I''m glad your mom is doing well too!

 

[Kaleigh]

JJ, thanks for sharing that picture!!

Ellen yay for your Mom gaining 2 pounds, that''s great.

Skippy glad your Mom is doing well.

 

[Ellen]

Thanks Lisa!

 

[Ellen]

Mom had her mental test this morning. I wasn''t with her, only during the Q&A before. She said it was a lot harder than the yearly test she would get with the old doc. The gal who gave her the test said it''s newer, not widely used yet, but it''s fairly accurate in determining what type of dementia one has. i.e. ALZ, regular old age, vascular, etc. Two week wait to find out. So we wait....

 

[Linda W]

Ellen,

I hope the test wasn''t too draining for your mother. I imagine you are anxious too see what the results are.

 

[justjulia]

Date: 10/27/2008 3:31:13 PM
Author: Ellen
Mom had her mental test this morning. I wasn''t with her, only during the Q&A before. She said it was a lot harder than the yearly test she would get with the old doc. The gal who gave her the test said it''s newer, not widely used yet, but it''s fairly accurate in determining what type of dementia one has. i.e. ALZ, regular old age, vascular, etc. Two week wait to find out. So we wait....

Well I hope they give you some strategies for how to deal with whatever comes of the results. Glad it''s over.

 

[Ellen]

Thanks guys. Yes, I am definitely curious as to the results. Mom said it was really detailed as far as what she was expected to remember, which frankly wouldn't be that hard compared to the mini test the doc gave her in his office. Anywho, I'll let ya know!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/28/2008 11:14:40 AM
Author: Ellen
Thanks guys. Yes, I am definitely curious as to the results. Mom said it was really detailed as far as what she was expected to remember, which frankly wouldn''t be that hard compared to the mini test the doc gave her in his office. Anywho, I''ll let ya know!

I hope they give you some answers.

Thank you all

 

[taovandel]

I work at an upscale retirement community in Virginia and we have a few residents who have dementia and go over to our Assisted Living/Memory Unit area of our community and it''s always heartbreaking to see that, for some of them, their family is never around. We used to have one resident who kept making reservations for our dining room for 8 people because she thought her son and her grandchildren were coming----but we knew he only showed up maybe once every couple of months.

Reading a few pages of this thread has lifted my spirits to see so many caring children helping to care for their parents.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 11/2/2008 4:43:22 PM
Author: taovandel
I work at an upscale retirement community in Virginia and we have a few residents who have dementia and go over to our Assisted Living/Memory Unit area of our community and it''s always heartbreaking to see that, for some of them, their family is never around. We used to have one resident who kept making reservations for our dining room for 8 people because she thought her son and her grandchildren were coming----but we knew he only showed up maybe once every couple of months.

Reading a few pages of this thread has lifted my spirits to see so many caring children helping to care for their parents.

Welcome Taovandel; glad to have you

 

[Ellen]

Date: 11/2/2008 6:13:55 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 11/2/2008 4:43:22 PM
Author: taovandel
I work at an upscale retirement community in Virginia and we have a few residents who have dementia and go over to our Assisted Living/Memory Unit area of our community and it''s always heartbreaking to see that, for some of them, their family is never around. We used to have one resident who kept making reservations for our dining room for 8 people because she thought her son and her grandchildren were coming----but we knew he only showed up maybe once every couple of months.

Reading a few pages of this thread has lifted my spirits to see so many caring children helping to care for their parents.

Welcome Taovandel; glad to have you

Ditto! And thank you.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 11/2/2008 4:43:22 PM
Author: taovandel
I work at an upscale retirement community in Virginia and we have a few residents who have dementia and go over to our Assisted Living/Memory Unit area of our community and it''s always heartbreaking to see that, for some of them, their family is never around. We used to have one resident who kept making reservations for our dining room for 8 people because she thought her son and her grandchildren were coming----but we knew he only showed up maybe once every couple of months.

Reading a few pages of this thread has lifted my spirits to see so many caring children helping to care for their parents.

Thanks for all that You do. I know it''s a hard job. I saw that a lot when I went to visit my Nanny. It breaks your heart.
I remember being little visiting my other grandfather. I was maybe 6 or so. There was a woman that always sat by the entrance. I always said hello to her. I asked her who she was waiting for, she said my husband. He''ll be here shortly. My grandmother took me aside, and said, he died years ago. It made me so sad. To this day, I think about how she sat there, and waited, and why they would have allowed her to do so...
Funny how those things stay with you after all these years.