My Mom had Alzheimer’s for 10 years. The last two years of her life were spent in 4 different Nursing Homes. My step-dad kept moving her around – not a good idea because in an Alzheimer’s patient’s mind they think they are not wanted and regress!
My sister and I rotated nights and one of us was with her every night to make sure she was given her medication on time, was fed, and put to bed on time. I felt sorry for some of the other patients because they didn’t have anyone to be on watch for them!!
I saw many a patient not eat because the person feeding them gave up after a few minutes of trying to feed them. Sometimes it would take me an hour and a half to feed Mom if she didn’t want to eat right away!
Anyone in a Nursing Home needs someone to come in and check on them because the staff get busy and forget them!!
Lin: Please feel free to write to my e-mail. It would be awesome chatting with you in private there. Going to bed now, it’s 8:30 p.m. however, I’m having a really bad day/night. Good night everyone, good night Lin…”From “THE WALTONS’LOL
My dear Lin: Please don’t tear yourself up in not caring for your mother. And please don’t put yourself on a guilt trip. I took care of my mother for ten years with Alzheimer’s Disease, and I had my three year old adopted son, and my first husband and the house at the time to care for. Trust me Lin, it is one of the most difficult, devastating illnesses to care for. It runs you down to the ground, and even those that are in good health become weary. I was able to care for my mother until the day she died from Alzheimer’s in her home. But trust me, if I didn’t make a promise to her years prior about putting her in a nursing home I would have done it. I suffered more I think, seeing her in that condition, caring for her in that condition, then getting a break from a nursing home. I would have taken care of my husband of only three years here at home (by the way I did have nurses coming here for him, but it took all of our life’s savings and everything we had.) And in addition I had been hit by a truck, ended up with a concussion, whiplash, abrasions across my chest, a pinched nerve in my sciatica and a torn ligament in my left knee. I was no good to him here at home, so hoping that my knee and back would become stronger the doctor’s told me to put him in the nursing home, which in three months time he would be able to come back to me. But Lin, that was in 2009 and to this day my health has been a spiral staircase downward. There is no way that I would have been able to care for him. My only regret is that I didn’t have the time to find him the best nursing home.
Lin, perhaps your mother (if your name is Lin) when you weren’t around e.g. in school, work, etc., may have called you “Linda”…thus match the names Lin. You go by Lin, she’s talking about her daughter “Linda”, do you see a pattern here? I picked up on that immediately. I do hope that you find comfort in that Lin. She really in her heart, mind and soul hasn’t forgotten you, just calls you by a different name. And even if you wrote her a card with the name Linda on it, doesn’t necessarily mean that she would remember the “Linda” that you hear her calling for each time. She may switch names. Wish you lived closer, we would be able to share even more, since I’ve dealt with many Alzheimer’s patients over the years. Please don’t beat yourself up over this, you made the right decision. Both you and your mother will be in my thoughts and prayers,
Lola, thank you for that wonderfull note. Yep, my name is Linda Kay, but I only go by Lin on line, like it and my fav aunt always calls me Lin. It had been since May last I was able to visit but call almost dailey. The people there are just wonderfull. This is why my oldest son has nothing to do with me now. He forgets I made apt. to take her and saw the testing. I took her every place for a yr. Then I got sick. I ask son to take her to one Dr, he never ever let us know the next apt. then he took over everything. Which i am greatfull for. He’s an R.N. and he’s good. His wife works in lab. She does better than the others where she is. She wouldn’t of had to go if I’d been able to care for her like I planned. You just never know where she is in time in her head now. So many are getting this, spreads like fire. My aunt also had a wreck, caused by others and has had operations that didn’t do much. I have your email addy now from one of our friends here, can I email you and keep it off here? If you don’t want me having it I promise to tear it up, throw it in the fire. lol.
My mom also has Alz. and it hurts me badly. She was so full of life and busy. She was doing all those things they tell you to. Went to see her the other day, she thinks she has another daughter named Linda, but she actually recalls me at 14 and is sad she’s not called or came by or wrote. When I ask about sending a card from the other Linda nurse said more to confuse mom. In her right mind she’d loved this place but then there’d be no need for the care she now gets. She ask to never go to a place to be cared for but it just could not be helped in the health I’m in and her only child. it tears me up not to be there as she always was for me…sorry.
Wow this absolutely took my breath away! I have been involved in visiting so many nursing homes, and three years ago I had to put my beloved husband in there of only three years wedded bliss due to the on sought of unexpected early dementia. However, he only lasted in the nursing home for three months and died. I miss him so much and know that he is looking down on me through my trials and tribulations. Unfortunately unbeknown to me he was placed in a nursing home that really didn’t care about the patients and died a horrendous death. (I don’t want to discuss this here, it upsets me how he was mistreated.) But seeing these seniors being active, singing, partaking in this video gave me a new insight of where, if needed to be placed, this is the place to go.
Right on Seniors, keep up the good work, keep on singing, keep on being happy, keep on making video’s for us seniors on line. Love you all so very much!!!
November 27, 2012 @ 6:42 am
My Mom had Alzheimer’s for 10 years. The last two years of her life were spent in 4 different Nursing Homes. My step-dad kept moving her around – not a good idea because in an Alzheimer’s patient’s mind they think they are not wanted and regress!
My sister and I rotated nights and one of us was with her every night to make sure she was given her medication on time, was fed, and put to bed on time. I felt sorry for some of the other patients because they didn’t have anyone to be on watch for them!!
I saw many a patient not eat because the person feeding them gave up after a few minutes of trying to feed them. Sometimes it would take me an hour and a half to feed Mom if she didn’t want to eat right away!
Anyone in a Nursing Home needs someone to come in and check on them because the staff get busy and forget them!!
November 24, 2012 @ 10:10 pm
Lin: Please feel free to write to my e-mail. It would be awesome chatting with you in private there. Going to bed now, it’s 8:30 p.m. however, I’m having a really bad day/night. Good night everyone, good night Lin…”From “THE WALTONS’LOL
November 24, 2012 @ 2:23 pm
My dear Lin: Please don’t tear yourself up in not caring for your mother. And please don’t put yourself on a guilt trip. I took care of my mother for ten years with Alzheimer’s Disease, and I had my three year old adopted son, and my first husband and the house at the time to care for. Trust me Lin, it is one of the most difficult, devastating illnesses to care for. It runs you down to the ground, and even those that are in good health become weary. I was able to care for my mother until the day she died from Alzheimer’s in her home. But trust me, if I didn’t make a promise to her years prior about putting her in a nursing home I would have done it. I suffered more I think, seeing her in that condition, caring for her in that condition, then getting a break from a nursing home. I would have taken care of my husband of only three years here at home (by the way I did have nurses coming here for him, but it took all of our life’s savings and everything we had.) And in addition I had been hit by a truck, ended up with a concussion, whiplash, abrasions across my chest, a pinched nerve in my sciatica and a torn ligament in my left knee. I was no good to him here at home, so hoping that my knee and back would become stronger the doctor’s told me to put him in the nursing home, which in three months time he would be able to come back to me. But Lin, that was in 2009 and to this day my health has been a spiral staircase downward. There is no way that I would have been able to care for him. My only regret is that I didn’t have the time to find him the best nursing home.
Lin, perhaps your mother (if your name is Lin) when you weren’t around e.g. in school, work, etc., may have called you “Linda”…thus match the names Lin. You go by Lin, she’s talking about her daughter “Linda”, do you see a pattern here? I picked up on that immediately. I do hope that you find comfort in that Lin. She really in her heart, mind and soul hasn’t forgotten you, just calls you by a different name. And even if you wrote her a card with the name Linda on it, doesn’t necessarily mean that she would remember the “Linda” that you hear her calling for each time. She may switch names. Wish you lived closer, we would be able to share even more, since I’ve dealt with many Alzheimer’s patients over the years. Please don’t beat yourself up over this, you made the right decision. Both you and your mother will be in my thoughts and prayers,
Love,
Lola
November 24, 2012 @ 8:44 pm
Lola, thank you for that wonderfull note. Yep, my name is Linda Kay, but I only go by Lin on line, like it and my fav aunt always calls me Lin. It had been since May last I was able to visit but call almost dailey. The people there are just wonderfull. This is why my oldest son has nothing to do with me now. He forgets I made apt. to take her and saw the testing. I took her every place for a yr. Then I got sick. I ask son to take her to one Dr, he never ever let us know the next apt. then he took over everything. Which i am greatfull for. He’s an R.N. and he’s good. His wife works in lab. She does better than the others where she is. She wouldn’t of had to go if I’d been able to care for her like I planned. You just never know where she is in time in her head now. So many are getting this, spreads like fire. My aunt also had a wreck, caused by others and has had operations that didn’t do much. I have your email addy now from one of our friends here, can I email you and keep it off here? If you don’t want me having it I promise to tear it up, throw it in the fire. lol.
November 24, 2012 @ 11:20 am
My mom also has Alz. and it hurts me badly. She was so full of life and busy. She was doing all those things they tell you to. Went to see her the other day, she thinks she has another daughter named Linda, but she actually recalls me at 14 and is sad she’s not called or came by or wrote. When I ask about sending a card from the other Linda nurse said more to confuse mom. In her right mind she’d loved this place but then there’d be no need for the care she now gets. She ask to never go to a place to be cared for but it just could not be helped in the health I’m in and her only child. it tears me up not to be there as she always was for me…sorry.
November 23, 2012 @ 8:03 am
Wow this absolutely took my breath away! I have been involved in visiting so many nursing homes, and three years ago I had to put my beloved husband in there of only three years wedded bliss due to the on sought of unexpected early dementia. However, he only lasted in the nursing home for three months and died. I miss him so much and know that he is looking down on me through my trials and tribulations. Unfortunately unbeknown to me he was placed in a nursing home that really didn’t care about the patients and died a horrendous death. (I don’t want to discuss this here, it upsets me how he was mistreated.) But seeing these seniors being active, singing, partaking in this video gave me a new insight of where, if needed to be placed, this is the place to go.
Right on Seniors, keep up the good work, keep on singing, keep on being happy, keep on making video’s for us seniors on line. Love you all so very much!!!
Your friend for life,
Lola
November 23, 2012 @ 1:49 am
I really enjoyed this! I am getting there myself & hope it can be my golden years!
November 22, 2012 @ 11:05 pm
You go grands…..I love it!
November 22, 2012 @ 10:56 pm
Being a senior citizen myself I really liked this!