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Meet fellow Caregivers - Introduce yourself

Caregivers | Last Active: Nov 12, 2023 | Replies (707)

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@sma1952

My mother has dementia. We noticed last year she had some signs that something wasn't right and asked her if she was taking her meds, just doing things like laundry and making meals. My sister in law came to visit and confirmed she wasn't doing anything I mentioned. I was having hip problems at the time and could not get around well. Took her to our family doctor and he said she was clean dressed nicely and talked with him about things. Said he didn't see any problems. I went down every day to make sure she took her meds did her grocery shopping and wash. Found out she had bags of dirty laundry hidden around the house. Next she started forgetting about appointments would come down to take her only to find out she would be sleeping and not even ready. This was her hair appt. would call her 2 hours before an appointment so she would be ready. Then after she started going back to sleep and forgot that I even called her. She started not remembering current things. Wouldn't even remember what she ate. Finally I was able to get her in a hospital too see what was going on. Found out she had a severe uti and they started treating her. Thought that might have been the problem. No not really. They transferred her to a nursing home for physical and occupational therapy. She stayed there 3 Weeks and they determined she needed more care then I could provide. During this time I had severe hip problems and could hardly get around. I was on pain medication for it but had to find a place for my mom. Couldn't take her to my house because bathroom was upstairs and she was using a walker and couldn't do steps. Dont know if I did the right thing but I called a place for mom to see if they could help. Actually made appointments for me to see the assisted living places. I did check out the reviews and one seemed pretty nice. We admitted her there. Now I am questioning myself if I picked the right one. Seems there are somethings that I am concerned about. One was there air conditioning not working the past week when it was really hot. It was not just her room it was other places. An aide told me to talk to the director when I did they blamed it on the patients why it was not working. I was there one day when it was off. It had tripped the circuit. Two days later it wasn't working and by the end of the week still was not working. Also asked if a doctor had been in to see her at all. One was supposed to come in every 3 months to check on her. Asked the director said she has been there long enough he should have came said they would check never got an answer. Now I am wondering if this was the right place to put her. Maybe I am just feeling guilty I put her in there. My brother who lives in Texas never even came up to help with anything. I couldnt walk and my husband who has a slipped disk had to get everything moved out of her apartment. I felt at the time we were doing wrong. That she should have had some say to what she wanted to keep. Everybody said I was crazy. My husband felt the same way when he was getting rid of things. Months later she has been realizing that she has been there awhile and has started asking about certain things. Told her my son and daughter have most we kept a lot that thought she might want. She seemed to be happy about that. It's just been hard and now a year later I am finally starting to get around better and spending more time with her. Worst of all I am feeling bad that I had to place her anywhere. My brother tells me if I didn't she probably would have died already. its botherig me know because I feel I wasn't capable enough to making important decisions and am questioning myself.

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Replies to "My mother has dementia. We noticed last year she had some signs that something wasn't right..."

It was a hard choice to make for you. You can only do your best,take comfort in that. I have learned that A PLACE FOR MON ONLY RECOMMENDS HOMES THEY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH. These are not always the best places. If you keep finding problems with the home she is in you can move her. Best of luck to you.

I knew about mom and me probably had contracts. The nursing home where she was was first weren't that good. Checked the review and they were worse. My mom started working in a nursing home full time as a nurses aide when she was 62. Retired 20 years later only because she couldn't drive at night. Then she babysat my 2 grandchildren until she fractured her pelvis. I thought she recovered. Think that's when things must have started declining. That was two years ago. Did think about moving her but she had her room changed and she is even more confused. Think the problems with our nursing homes is shortage of help. Nurses there are working double shifts. Have heard from people and even my family doctor that it's a good place. Thank you for your response. I will defenately keep my eye on things there.

Hi, i know my mother in law was gonna sell her home of almost 50 yrs of livin here and she wanted to stay in her own home but knew she couldnt alone due to her eye site caused by silent strokes so we have moved in here home her son my husband and i care for her. He has 2 other brothers but in almost 10 months the youngest just now said he wanted to help with mom. The older son doesnt want anything to do with her because ahe changed her trust to make my husband trustee. And its hard carein for anyone who is gonna pass, she is pretty healthy at 79 walks 3 miles almost daily but i can say that givin her vitamins B & E along with the Aricept has greatly improved moms memory she leads a very active life even though she cant see.. if we would have put her in assisted living for her that would have made her life short and she would be unhappy my job is to see that she is get best self at any and all costs even when the time comes that she doesnt know us.
If you feel like you didnt make the right choice for yer mama, I'd make sure they took care of her like you would if it were possible fir you but never feel guilty. A great book to read is The 36 Hours. In Feb mom's mmse was 18/30 now with Aricept
And bring her vitamins B & E level up her last mmse which was in May was 25/30
And if she could see she would be great here at home alone.. i hope i have helpef you
I do understand caring for our parents is gard i took care of my own mother when she was Dx with cancer and she was at home until her last days and she passed in hospist 4 months later.. after being in hospist for only 3 days. Those were her wishes but it still wasnt easy. I play a game with mom now i "lose" my coffee cup and she'll find it in the microwave. I think keeping them happy any and all cost is the key to them living longer also on Amazon they have a macanical cat that my mom just loves by hasbro but she also stole my little tiny dog lololol for her own which is fine with me. It comes down to allowing them to be as independent as possible. Just do the best ya can and see that her care center is giver her the same care you would give her if you could.
I'll keep yall in my prayers..((((hugs)))
Kepi