Frustration
Nov. 24th, 2002 08:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
susandennisThere's 'count to ten' and 'take a deep breath' - any more out there like those?
This morning we left home at noon to stop at Walmart and get Mom a cellphone. It took 30 minutes which I thought was pretty darned efficient since the very nice clerk had to write out the contract, activate the phone, get everything signed, sealed and handed over. But, you would have thought that it had taken 5 hours and involved heavy lifting.
I should have just done it without her and next time I'll know. She's good for about 30 minutes of activity per day and it's better if that activity is divided up into 10 minute increments.
I have no idea how she's going to be a movie extra for a whole day.
After the Walmart extravaganza we were off to her favorite restaurant for eggs benedict. She goes to this place at least one Sunday a month and sometimes even more often. And this morning she couldn't remember the way there. I think she would have been ok if she had been driving, but she wanted me to drive. I wanted to scream.
She doesn't want me to park in the handicapped parking spots (she has a card) but she doesn't want to walk either. I'm counting to 10.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with one of the staff here to make sure I know and understand all of the processes.
She lives at Bishop Gasden which is a way fancy retirement joint. The deal is that she lives in her apartment until she can no longer do that and then she moves into the assisted living section until she needs nursing care and it's on to that section.
She and Daddy paid a pile of $$ to move in here and be taken care of for the rest of their lives. Daddy didn't exactly get his full ration (he had heart attack and died about 6 months after they moved in). But, Mom loves it to death and really loves that she doesn't have to worry about squat. (Part of the deal is that even if she runs out of money, they can't kick her out - ever.)
But, she's clearly getting to a stage where we need to make sure that when disaster strikes or emergencies occur, I know who to contact and what to expect. And they know that I'm in charge, etc. So tomorrow, I go meet with the people who will give me the answers.
I have a long list of 'what happens when...?' and 'what happens if it happens on a weekday?' 'on a weekend?' etc. I just hope they have the right answers.
This morning we left home at noon to stop at Walmart and get Mom a cellphone. It took 30 minutes which I thought was pretty darned efficient since the very nice clerk had to write out the contract, activate the phone, get everything signed, sealed and handed over. But, you would have thought that it had taken 5 hours and involved heavy lifting.
I should have just done it without her and next time I'll know. She's good for about 30 minutes of activity per day and it's better if that activity is divided up into 10 minute increments.
I have no idea how she's going to be a movie extra for a whole day.
After the Walmart extravaganza we were off to her favorite restaurant for eggs benedict. She goes to this place at least one Sunday a month and sometimes even more often. And this morning she couldn't remember the way there. I think she would have been ok if she had been driving, but she wanted me to drive. I wanted to scream.
She doesn't want me to park in the handicapped parking spots (she has a card) but she doesn't want to walk either. I'm counting to 10.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with one of the staff here to make sure I know and understand all of the processes.
She lives at Bishop Gasden which is a way fancy retirement joint. The deal is that she lives in her apartment until she can no longer do that and then she moves into the assisted living section until she needs nursing care and it's on to that section.
She and Daddy paid a pile of $$ to move in here and be taken care of for the rest of their lives. Daddy didn't exactly get his full ration (he had heart attack and died about 6 months after they moved in). But, Mom loves it to death and really loves that she doesn't have to worry about squat. (Part of the deal is that even if she runs out of money, they can't kick her out - ever.)
But, she's clearly getting to a stage where we need to make sure that when disaster strikes or emergencies occur, I know who to contact and what to expect. And they know that I'm in charge, etc. So tomorrow, I go meet with the people who will give me the answers.
I have a long list of 'what happens when...?' and 'what happens if it happens on a weekday?' 'on a weekend?' etc. I just hope they have the right answers.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-24 07:48 pm (UTC)Yeah: 'don't kill your mom'.
Well, I don't have to go through this with my mom, she died two years ago. But I dread it for my father. Then again, he'll just keel over and die at some Rotary function.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-24 07:53 pm (UTC)My husband's Grandmim moved herself into one a couple of years ago and loves it there. She knew she wouldn't be able to get around anymore and the people there have been very helpful. Kind and friendly but without losing their professionalism at the same time.
Of course, this does nothing to help the worry. You can have the peace of mind that things will be taken care of, but it doesn't always help when you are very far away. All you can do is hope.
But she is happy and taken care of, so that says quite a bit.:)
(no subject)
Date: 2002-11-25 10:06 am (UTC)I guess you are learning just how much you can do with her now. It sounds like the hardest thing is finding it so hard to accept these changes in her.