Maybe it was a simple decision: A series injury or medical condition occurred and eliminated the option of living alone. Or maybe it was an agonizing, frustrating decision: You knew, but your caree wouldn’t budge. The tug-of-war over living arrangements almost did you both in.
Today, as part of our When… series, we’d love to know: When did you know your caree could no longer live alone? Please share in our comments section.
(Editor’s Note: Be sure to listen to Your Caregiving Journey today at 11:30 a.m. CT (12:30 p.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. PT); we’ll talk to Rebecca Lowry and Nancy Hanley of My Health Care Manager about when a caree can no longer live alone.)
Resources
Our third issue of Caregiving Deals went out this morning! View it here. In our third issue, we’re offering a once-a-year deal on coaching with Denise–but only to five family caregivers. Act fast as the deal only lasts until tomorrow night at 11:59 p.m.
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For me it was something I knew for a while but was putting into the denial mode because I had just shared my space with my Aunt. Moms eye sight was very poor and every few days I was going over there and cleaning up and taking her grocery shopping, etc. but in between my visits the bathroom was horrible and the dishes were sticky and deep down I knew this was no longer a safe way of living for her. When she called me in November of 2007 to say she couldnt breathe I knew then when the stretcher took her to the hospital that we would be sharing homes and when it was confirmed she had a blockage to her left main artery of her heart that was the moment for sure. She actually took it well. She was convalescing here with us anyway and every day we would discuss it. I think deep down she was actually a little scared to be alone also having been by herself when she had the chestpains. For me it all just blened together the way it was meant to be!! We did most of the packing up but I took her once or twice to say goodbye to her home..it was sad for her…She had 47 wonderful years there…
My mother had her stroke in 2002. The stroke left her with strained mobility on her right side. For the next 2 years, she was back and forth from Maine to RI, recuperating with us: During the “back and forth” years after her stroke, she broke her hip, had a head injury and went through some medication changes that gave her intense panic attacks, and confusion. It was during the med. changes, that we all knew she needed to be with us. She needed an advocate for all that was transpiring. She had an apartment added on to our house in RI. It was beautiful and had its’ own separate entrance for any nursing care that she would need. Unfortunately, the day they finished the apartment, my husband lost his job of 13 years, and eventually, we all moved on to where his new job was…Oklahoma, to Duncannon, PA and now to Lewisburg, PA. Adding in-law areas as we went!