My mom has been a nursing home for months, but she isn't adjusting well. She goes through the day crying and hating it and more. What do I do?

This sounds so much like my dad.
He says he is doing his arm exercises. He says he will do this and will participate in PT but then ..... he doesn't.
I know I do the same thing with my diet and my exercises... I WANT to do them but just do not... but if I had a "trainer" to encourage me ... surely I would LOL.

I do have to say the low does of Abilify took away my dads weepy fits and seemed to give him some energy and motivation. I would encourage you to ask the doctor to see if a low dosage could possibly help your moms mindset.

My dad was also slightly paranoid about people taking things, and having some problems with dream vs reality and the ability seems to have helped that too.

I get mad at the nursing home at times but I know I would be miserable with my dad here. I feel sorry for him and want to bring him here but I know how he can be and have to keep myself from doing something stupid and saying" okay come live with me" .... I could not even get him to the toilet in the shape he is in now.

cmagnum, are you sure that we are not dealing with the same social worker? Mom started PT this week and now has decided that she can do it herself at home. Right! She can't even remember when she got her medicine or what it was. Today she wanted us to call the family doctor because he could let her go home. Thank heavens the nurses didn't by that one either. But I have found that of all the staff at a facility it seems that the social workers / case managers are the one who know the least about what's going on or take a personal look at each indiviual situtation. Most of my frustration over the last year as come from them. Speak directly to the staff doctor about your concerns be direct and to the point and also let the director of nursing and her nurses on each shift know what your plans, goals and reasons for your decisions concerning your mom are, this is what I have been doing. I have been polite ( alittle hard at times, when I am tired and frustrated) but at least I am starting to get everyone on the same page. I do not always have to run to the nursing home to do this sometimes I just call and ask to speak to mom's nurse on that shift. I always take time to speak with them when I visit, it's my way of of saying I am here, I am concerned about by moms care and I need you/and expect you to do your job and comunicate with me and my mom. If I think they are not directing mom in the right direction (I can tell by the way she's talking or thinking) I bring that to their attention. I guess it all comes down to comunication which at times can be difficult especially with people who are suppose to be trained to handle these problems. Continue to try, Just take it one day at a time, that's all we can or need to do for ourselves and our love ones. God Bless 7 Good Night

Talk to the social worker and see if she has any ideas.

She is on depression meds, we go everyday to see her. The home is 5 star rated and we have talked to the social worker many times. No one has any real answers. They say she probably never will adjust. She just got a new roommate and already says she does not like here. I told her to give her a chance. This is very difficult to handle with the stress of family life and work.

It sucks to deal with the guilt and wouldn't it be nice if the parent would care enough to put a good face on things for our benefit?
That doesn't happen so ..... life sucks. Is she wanting to live with you?

My dad's social worker keeps calling me. Dad is crying, dad wishes he were dead, etc.. etc... I try to keep him off drugs so he can function so I hate to hear they want to put him on something else.....

I refused for them to add more anti-depressant because I was afraid dad would get beligerant (sp) so they decided to add ability to his existing celexa. It seems to have worked wonders. They also move him from bed ridden to a wheelchair at my insistence and that made a huge positive difference for him.

Try ABILIFY for your mom added to the anti-depressant - well talk to the doctor.

Also you can get a book player and headphones if your mom would enjoy listening to books. There are free services for that out there.

If your mom can handle it, tell her how her unhappiness is making your feel in your life and she may try harder. But we all know how that goes.

The social worker where my mother is has explained to her several times why they cannot make a safe discharge at this time and asked if she is willing to work with PT to make enough progress to go home. She says yes with her head, but does not cooperate. The social worker also avoids putting her staying there off on me as her medical POA and places it at the feet of the nursing home doctor.