Joe and I had planned to go to Ireland before we found out his Ma and Da were in the hospital. I'm so glad we did.
It was not a vacation in the normal sense, although we did have some fun a few times.
His Ma and Da were in a sort of nursing home. We were shocked by their appearance, it had been 3 years and they both looked fragile, especially Ma.
Ma's emphysema is so advanced she is on oxygen 24/7. Da's alzheimer's is advanced, though he does have flashes he makes sense, he loses words and because he's not totally out of it yet, this frustrates him and he calls himself stupid.
Ma also has panic attacks and is hard of hearing. The combination of Ma and Da's problems are in conflict. Da says something, she doesn't hear him, asks him to repeat it, he can't many a time, he gets frustrated and she is impatient that he has trouble basic things, such as dressing himself and when she starts nagging him he gets flustered then angry and then has even more trouble doing things.
Physically not much is wrong with Da. Mentally not much is wrong with Ma.
They came home last Tuesday, thru the Tuesday we left. At the home they were involved in activities, singing, knitting, visiting others, eating meals, making cards, generally getting up and having purpose. Upon coming home they basically sit on the couch and fall asleep or mindlessly watch TV. Not much of a life and if that is the sum total, I don't see them living long, frankly.
We did get them a helper who is there am, afternoon and pm to help Da get dressed, shave, help them both w/meds, clean a little. They are also trying to get Meals on Wheels.
We did have a get together one nite, all the brothers and sisters at one sister's house and we talked over the situation, came up with a game plan then preceeded to play music, some singing, laughing and drinking. We did drink a lot during that trip, I am not proud of it, but I'm not ashamed either. We were both under some stress and we were basically stuck at Ma and Da's home for a week with little respite.
Glad to be back! Funny how much we missed our animals
It was not a vacation in the normal sense, although we did have some fun a few times.
His Ma and Da were in a sort of nursing home. We were shocked by their appearance, it had been 3 years and they both looked fragile, especially Ma.
Ma's emphysema is so advanced she is on oxygen 24/7. Da's alzheimer's is advanced, though he does have flashes he makes sense, he loses words and because he's not totally out of it yet, this frustrates him and he calls himself stupid.
Ma also has panic attacks and is hard of hearing. The combination of Ma and Da's problems are in conflict. Da says something, she doesn't hear him, asks him to repeat it, he can't many a time, he gets frustrated and she is impatient that he has trouble basic things, such as dressing himself and when she starts nagging him he gets flustered then angry and then has even more trouble doing things.
Physically not much is wrong with Da. Mentally not much is wrong with Ma.
They came home last Tuesday, thru the Tuesday we left. At the home they were involved in activities, singing, knitting, visiting others, eating meals, making cards, generally getting up and having purpose. Upon coming home they basically sit on the couch and fall asleep or mindlessly watch TV. Not much of a life and if that is the sum total, I don't see them living long, frankly.
We did get them a helper who is there am, afternoon and pm to help Da get dressed, shave, help them both w/meds, clean a little. They are also trying to get Meals on Wheels.
We did have a get together one nite, all the brothers and sisters at one sister's house and we talked over the situation, came up with a game plan then preceeded to play music, some singing, laughing and drinking. We did drink a lot during that trip, I am not proud of it, but I'm not ashamed either. We were both under some stress and we were basically stuck at Ma and Da's home for a week with little respite.
Glad to be back! Funny how much we missed our animals
