Mom and we caregivers are facing new challenges...she's not eating well and therefore losing weight...difficulty in walking...sleeping way too much...not waking up during the night and walking to the bathroom 3 or 4 times at night...losing kidney control...she's not feisty...and now she's slurring her speech.
Moms still has a strong desire to walk but it takes a strong caregiver to support her while she struggles with her walker. We sit together watching television and she hugs me but we need to support her. We let her dangle her legs on the edge of the bed so she can continue to move or lift up her legs. What's special is when she's sitting on the top mattress of the day bed and I'm sitting on the bottom while supporting her...she brushes my hair just like when I was a small boy.
I'm evaluating her physical and emotional needs. Do I need to make a change in caregivers to match her new requirements? Her diet is two Ensures per day, oatmeal with grounded calcium pills and one slice of bread, sweet and sour rice with chicken, and a variety of dinners. Although she tries to feed herself the caregivers will spoon feed her to finish her meals.
I emailed her doctor with the new changes and probably will receive a doctor's appointment this week. Mom will be 90 years old January 30th.
1 comment:
Just found your blog. Sitting here researching stuff on Binswangers, again, hoping to get some more insight on how to best care for my dad, who was diagnosed with BD 4 years ago and for whom I'm primary caregiver for. I'll go back and look at prior posts of yours later for more support and info. It looks like things are pretty rough for you right now and I just want to say how sorry I am for what you're going through. Seeing your parent change and feeling the sole responsibility for their wellbeing and health is stressful, emotional, draining, life-changing, etc., etc. Please hang in there. Your mom is so lucky to have you.
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