ParentCareInsights.com

Let me give a little background on my blog. I started this as a way to navigate my feelings and personal experiences on caring for your elderly parent(s). I am an only child so it makes this process seem even more lonely and overwhelming while trying to keep yourself above water. About 3 months ago, my mom fell for the third time in her house and was not discovered for approximately 24-36 hours. Since then she has had surgery and was in rehab for about 5 weeks until it was decided she had plateaued and needed to be released home or to a long term care facility. She wanted to go home and I agreed as long as she had 24/7 care for a little while longer. Suffice it to say, she has not improved much and her physical and cognitive abilities are declining. I’m left with no choice but to place her in long term care. My mom has been widowed since June 2012. Ironically, my dad was a long term care administrator so I kind of “grew up” in the business. I’m familiar with what happens in these situations. I was also a business manager in long term care for a little while many years ago so I saw from the outside what families are put through. No matter what side of the table you are on, this is not an easy process and puts an unbelievable amount of pressure and strain on a family. My dad died suddenly at the age of 63 and nothing prepares you for that. He had no will or any type of directives put into place. I thought after that, my mom would be more proactive in getting things together for when her time arrived. Not so……it took this event for me to get her affairs in order, but in many ways it is too late for any type of financial protection. Once she is in long term care, the money will go quickly and all of my parents hard-earned money will be gone, including the house in which I grew up. I sit here knowing that placing mom in long term care is best because she requires more care than what can be provided at her home. My only consolation is that she is willing to move and wants to improve enough to return home. While there is no promise of what the future will bring, I have to trust the process that I’m doing everything I can to give her the best quality of life.