Tonight I am tumbling this issue over in my mind: What if Mom and Dad go on like this? How can we take care of them long term? Paul will stay this week. Bill will return this weekend and stay through August. Loren will return in September. But then what?
Dad needs care.
Mom can't do it all.
Mom will probably need care too.
They want to stay in their home.
But they don't want to hire help.
Bill starts consulting work in September, after a summer of "retirement".
Loren has family and a ski season job.
So what do we do?
Park an rv in the folks' driveway?
Buy a house big enough for my family and the folks?
Hire help? (Would need day and night)
Put Dad in facility?
None of these would be palatable to Mom and Dad. But something will have to give. So the tumbling continues.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Can we hire someone from hospice to give them care? Do Mom and Dad have funds to cover that, and how much does medicare cover?
ReplyDeleteIf Dad goes to the hospital bed, which could become a necessity, then the daughters can take turns, which would help. No easy answers.
ReplyDeleteMom and Dad do have funds. They are loath to use them. In-home care would be out-of-pocket expense all the way. Their money would fly out the door.
ReplyDeleteBed-bound would change things, but he's not there yet. I can move him as long as he can stand. Ruth's only availability was this summer. Gayle's availability is limited.
I did talk with the hospice nurse today about my concerns. We are planning to have a family/hospice meeting about future daily care options when Loren is here in August.
I am available in September, October, etc. Can I learn how to help Dad with the lift belt?
ReplyDeleteyes, it is a prayer concern. Loren and I can always take another turn in Sept and Oct, but then the same question may be there. we do not know. It does seem like we will need to have mom and dad again consider paying someone to be available. Last year we had things worked out for hire of help but at the last minute they backed out and went it alone. we will see what the next weeks have. God's provision seems to be 'just in time' and many people have this same situation to struggle with.
ReplyDeleteGwen, it may be different in Texas, but my mom told me when we put Kathy under Hospice Care, that medicare pays for a CERTIFIED sitter 24/7. Of course, it never came to needing anything like that with her. My mom knows this, dealing with her brother in the hospice situation. It's worth checking into.
ReplyDelete