KEEPING MOM HOME

   After many years in the business of working with the elderly in their home, working with families who are trying to keep their parents, brother, sisters, friends, in their home; I've decided to put some information out there for everyone.  I've worked with hundreds, maybe thousands of people over the years who have successfully done this very thing. Unfortunately I've also worked with at least that many who have not been successful.   Most often, this is due to a lack of education, planning, or just plain common sense. 

   The decision to keep a loved one in their home is best made years before the time comes to decide.  Not a hastily made decision after an illness or injury has landed the loved one in the hospital and they are not able to go home immediately after a hospital stay. 

   No one wants to think about this, however.  We all want to stay healthy, strong, and independent until our dying day.  We want to be paying our bills, buying our groceries, attending church, card parties, the beauty parlor and doing this ourselves; in our own car with no help from anyone else.  The hard reality is that one day someone will say, "should Mom be alone?" It often happens slowly, gradually, quietly, and often...secretly.  Mom doesn't want anyone to know she "forgot" where she was going when she was miles away from home.  Driving in circles because she forgot if she was going to the beauty parlor or the grocery store.  No one knows there is not enough money at the end of the month to buy all the medicine and groceries so one or the other have to be sacrificed.  No one knows how weak she gets by the end of the day she sleeps in the recliner rather than attempt to walk to the bed.   

  The truth is Mom or Dad can stay in their home.  With some planning, talking, and cooperation it can be done and done successfully.  This is the reason for my blog.  I've been a home health nurse for 20 years and I've seen both sides of the coin.  I hope to be a resource for those who want to keep their family members at home.  A source of support for when it becomes stressful, scary, or just too much.  A source of information for all those questions that WILL come.  A reality check about what is and what is not.  Sometimes, just someone to listen.  It can be a very lonely business when you make this decision and are the one who makes it their responsibility to keep Mom home. I hope to be of help.