For the past several decades, my mom has cared for elderly family members. Beginning with her mother over 25 years ago, my mom has given her time and her home to relatives whose days were dwindling. My mom has taught me so much with her generosity and kindness that I hope that someday I’m able to do the same for her.
Recently I helped my mom clean out my Aunt’s room. Mom had cared for Aunt Helen for almost two decades, until her death this past year. During the last several years, she also cared for my dad’s elderly sister. Both were becoming more and more like children as they aged. I know my mom was worn out from caring for them. And yet, when we found the unopened box of tranquility diapers in Aunt Helen’s closet, my mom broke down and cried. Despite the hard work of tending to two elderly women, my mom misses them both even now.
My mother cared for her sister and my dad’s sister with love and dignity. I know that some families have no choice but to utilize a nursing home but the kind of care my mother gave my aunts cannot be had in a nursing home. I know that if my mother ever needs that kind of care, I will be honored to be the one who tends to her needs in her final days. I would consider myself blessed for that opportunity.
I’m happy to report that my mother is doing much better with her sleep issues since she began using a portable oxygen concentrator to assist her in recieving enough oxygen while she sleeps.
If anyone has ever experienced this problem or knows someone who suffers from this type of sleep/breathing disorder, you know that lethargy is a huge problem. My mom’s energy level is so much better now and I just know that it’s because she finally sought help. Interestingly, my mom didn’t even realize she had a problem until my sister observed her erratic breathing while dozing off. A little internet research got us to a doctor that could help.
Just another example of the good side of technology.
Until I found myself in a situation where I needed to choose a reliable, effective drug treatment program for a member of my family, I never realized how difficult it would be. I searched frantically, Googling every keyword I could imagine, trying to find a good fit. If only I’d known about the helpful professionals at 4Rehabilitation.com.
4Rehabilitation.com offers a free assessment and assistance in determining financial aid eligibility. Believe it or not, even those with health insurance seldom have enough coverage for effective drug rehab. Most health insurance plans cover only 6 weeks of in-patient treatment, not nearly long enough to effectively treat most drug addictions. One of the most difficult situations is watching your child or spouse die a slow death from addiction because you just don’t have the means to pay for treatment. 4Rehabilitation.com can help you with that obstacle.
You’ll also find resources on intervention, aftercare programs and information specific to various substances. I particularly like their Signs of Relapse article, right on their front page.
Regardless of any reports you may see on TV or read in the newspaper, addiction is becoming more of a problem than ever. This isn’t just a problem of celebrities; it doesn’t affect “someone else’s family.” Addiction affects us all. Please pass this message on to anyone you know who is dealing with an addiction or an addicted family member. It really is a matter of life and death.
Have you ever started to write about something that was really important to you, but just couldn’t get it down right? Have you ever had to keep starting over? And over. And over. That’s what is happening to me.
My mother’s oldest brother, my Uncle Ivan, has Alzheimer’s. Uncle Ivan is as close to a genius as I’ve ever seen. He and Aunt Shirley raised twelve children together; their fifth child is mentally retarded and their tenth and eleventh are twins.
My parents visited Uncle Ivan two months ago. It was so hard on my mom, sitting and waiting for him to have a lucid moment or two, sandwiched between stretches of incoherent ramblings and the retelling of stories from half a century or more ago, as if it were all current. Uncle Ivan talked about seeing his grandfather as if he’d just returned from the visit. He told my mother about his “little sister” as if my mom were still 10 years old. And then, out of the blue, he looked at my mother and knew exactly who she was. For a minute or so, he understood. And as quickly as he came he was gone again.
Aunt Shirley has done her best to care for Uncle Ivan. She has a nurse come in every day to help. She knows there may come a time when she’ll be forced to put Uncle Ivan in a home. When that time comes, Uncle Ivan won’t really know what is happening; it’s Aunt Shirley who will suffer most and has suffered most. I just can’t imagine how she gets through each day.
I have searched online to find a local Memory Walk because I’d really like to participate in honor of Uncle Ivan and Aunt Shirley. The nearest event is a little to far for me, I’m afraid. I would urge everyone, though, to find out if there’s a walk in your area and consider joining it. Just type in your zip code and find a Memory Walk in your community. Team Leaders are needed to sign up early to put a team together.
Alzheimer’s Disease takes a devastating toll on the family of those who suffer with the illness. In fact, as time goes on the Alzheimer’s patient suffers less, not really being aware of what is happening, while the primary caretaker and other family members suffer more and more. Alzheimer’s takes the person and leaves a shell. The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk is a nationwide event that raises both awareness and funds for more research into this debilitating disease.
I never thought it was true when I was younger. Now I know better. As you get older, your metabolism slows down. That makes it even more difficult to lose weight. Ask me how I know.
I’ve been taking supplements and trying various workout routines. Nothing works. I need some kind of Miracle burn workout or supplement. Or something. There’s a thin person trying to get out of this body and I’m going to find a way to let her out no matter what!
I don’t know why I allow myself to get caught up in these TV news reports. I guess if I hear anything about technology or computers or even video games, I’m drawn in. And now, once again, the experts are claiming that our children are addicted to video games.
Granted, video games are much more realistic than the one from even a decade ago. Nevertheless, I’m not sure that the games themselves are addicting. I’m more inclined to believe that those who become addicted have an addictive personality; video games just happen to be the thing that caught them. Regardless, it’s just a matter of time before drug rehabilitation facilities dedicate entire wings to this specific addiction. Only time will tell but my money is on just such a program within the next decade.
Research in progress: weight loss sites. I’ve been low-carb for 8 years and I like this way of eating. The last time I had success in losing weight, pre-low carb, was when taking the diet supplement ionamin. I think it was combined with another drug and I know it was ordered by a doctor.
I’ve decided that one of my problems is that I don’t have time to cook for myself. I know you can order pre-made meals from a few plans but I don’t know if that’s worth the investment or not. More research is in order it seems.
I’m really trying to catch up with all my work and get back to blogging like I ought to. I miss just sitting down to write and hate when Real Life gets in the way of my cyber life.
I must admit, though, that since I’ve been moving around the house instead of sitting at my computer, the pain in my shoulder seems to have gone away. Even Tramadol didn’t help it before. Maybe I just need to move around ever so often when I am working, rather than letting my neck get stiff from 4 hours straight at my computer.
Anyone know of a good software timer to remind me to get up and move around while I’m working?
I don’t know why it is, but I would rather research supplements and other health items online than simply buy into TV ads. Lab88 provides quite a bit of good information, especially in regard to weight loss and fitness. Whether you need a detox plan or something to energize you, Lab88 has it. I’m placing my order tonight!
I know there are many online resources for various health issues. I’ve found several sites in the past that I still visit when I need specific help.
The one issue I seem to research repeatedly is the availability of drug rehab facilities, especially broken down by area. I am a firm believer in family recovery so finding a facility nearby is very important.
If any of my readers knows of a reliable online resource for searching out rehab facilities by state and city, please let me know by posting here.
