Having my Mom live with us was the best decision I ever made. I know that she is happy, getiing what she needs, and lots of stimulation around her. She will be 91 in December 26TH . Her mind might not be what it use to be,and she is not mobil and in a Jerry chair, but everything else functions fine We all are blessed to have her be with our family for 7 years. It is not the quality of life that she use to have by all means, and she never wanted for us to take care of her in her ageing years, but the independant living situtation was to much for her. I work from home so it is easy to watch her and attend to her in between clients. This situation I know is not for everyone, but I feel that because of her living with us in our home has prolonged her mental ability.Living in our home has allowed me to make meals that she likes, take her out on the deck for several hours while I work in the garden, be around her teenage grand kids and their friends, she is included in all our entertaining at our house, not much of a conversationlist as she was, but she enjoys the people and the chatter.and I make sure that she is dressed the way she would like it even though she could care less. It is allot cheaper than a nursing home, and you are aware of everything that is going on.
Guess this sounds like a pitch for taking a parent(s) in if you have the room, time and energy and the mental copability to do it.
Thanks so much for you rpost Victoria and welcome to our community. Caregiving in many forms is a vaction, in my opinion, and you seem to be taking that on with patience and love and compassion - just the right tools of the trade.
I also wanted to comment that in addition to improving your mom's quality of life, you ahve done the saem for the rest of your family. As a young girl, my grandmother came to love with our family - and did so for 17 years. I was extremely close with her and to this day I mis her very much. But having her in my home as a child, gave me awareness of many things I might not have. Things like mother-daughter realtionships, historical stories of family and society, and many others.
So you are giving you mom a great place to live and share with her family while you kids get to learn increased love and respect for their grandma.
Kudos to you!! I hope I am in a position to do the same for my folks, when the time comes.
All the best, sue
Readers might be interested in these links:
Caregiver Center
Posts by Bob DeMarco - His mom and he live together.
Thanks Sue for the thumbs up! It never came across my mind to put her in a home, although she had extended care insurance(which would not have covered much and she was paying 7,200 a year for not much), my thinking was that she had always been there for me, and it was mine turn to return the favor. I have no sibblings, or family that even lives in this state, she has out lived all of her siters and brothers.
I grew up with my Mom's siter living with us, so the two of us really treated each other as sibblings than Aunt and Neice.
It really was a wonderful way to grow up. My Grandmother visited all of her kids in three month increments. Needless to say, she wasn't the real Grandmothery type at all, but none the less she was with us too for part of the year.
So, we are all blessed to have Mom, and sure it is hard to watch someone who travele all over the world, belonged to so many different helpful organizations, and was quite the socializer, slowly relying on people to help her remember, or drive her etc... She is with us for a reason, and we are greatful.
Vicki