Mom is kind of dangling between stages 3 and 4. One foot in each some days. She does not qualify
for hospice quite yet, and may not at all considering her slow deterioration and her age (90).
The doctor says my taking her out for the daily walks, etc, are keeping her in very good shape.
And yeah. The daughter problem persists, but I am kind of handling it better than I was. I think
I just had a post holiday/trip mini-depression. I am feeling SO MUCH better after I got my butt
to a meeting.
"Prairie Roots" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:How are things with your daughter? Not long ago, you and I had similar concerns about our
daughters' marital situations, and our granddaughters.
Last night when I visited my hospice patient I thought of you and Joyce and Laura and others whose
mothers (parents) are facing end-of-life health challenges. My hospice patient is bedridden with
cancer and now her skin is unbearably and uncontrollably itchy. Benadryl wasn't working so now
she's being given morphine to try to minimize the discomfort. Several times yesterday evening she
woke up long enough to plead for help, and when I tried to find the elusive spot, my touching her
was almost as bad as the irritation. The daughter, who is her sole caregiver, is still working her
own business (as a chiropractor), and the toll of caregiving is very apparent on her body and
face. In the year that I've been visiting, the daughter looks like she's gained about 50 lbs. I
asked how she was holding up with this new stress and she said she was tired. Very tired. I left
feeling very grateful that my own mother's health is good for the moment and that my father's
dying was relatively short and painfree.
I wish like anything you could catch a break. What stage of Alzheimer's is your mother? Is in-home
hospice, paid by Medicare, an option? I'm not familiar with the particulars of certifying someone
with Alzheimer's for hospice, but I do know that it can be done. At least then a volunteer could
come in and spell you on a regular, even daily, basis. And Medicare's hospice benefit also
provides for respite care...
My apologies if I've stuck an unwelcome nose in.
Prairie Roots
Lesanne said:I don't know if I can vent it, It is really just leftovers from the
stresses
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:last month I think, added to too much sweet junk brought home with me
from
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:my last trip. And back at home with no breaks in the forseeable future.
"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:meh - half a pound is nothin' hon, bet you'll sweat that off in no time
at
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:all. I
Quoted message said:like to think of those half pound gains as routine maintenance.
Anything
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:you
Quoted message said:care to vent on the group? Might just help ya feel better.
Joyce
On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 13:21:43 GMT, "Lesanne" <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Quoted message said:
>Oh well, up a half pound (and it is lucky I am doing an average or it
would
Quoted message said:>be worse)
>
>Lesanne
>365/158/155
>
>(by the way, I have been crashing and burning here)
>
