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She lives in an independent senior apt. She had hip replacement June 2. June 16 she developed Pneumonia, had a slight heart attack, and also has CHF. She was hospitalized, and went to Rehab and discharged on July 3. She is also Bipolar with depression.
I can't get her motivated to even get up and take her meds in the morning without going over myself. I need help!!!

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Srabell, you might consider getting a "realtor ' s box" installed on the outside of the house. It would have a numeric combination and contain keys for the caregivers (or you can just get a keypad lock installed). That way the caregivers can let themselves in.

you might also have mom checked out by a geriatric specialist (not her surgeon) as to her general health. It sounds as though she's suffering from post anesthesia brain fog, which is very common in the elderly.
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srabell, one rule of thumb that I have learned is that for every hour one is under for surgery, it will take one month to get rid of the brain fog. Thus, if the hip surgery was 3 hours, make that 3 months of brain fog. Then if your Mom still has pain, pain can be very exhausting and then there is more brain fog.

I am surprised your Mom had such little rehab time. Or was it a situation where your Mom didn't really want to do the exercises? I know it can be painful and boring. Is she getting at at-home physical therapy?

That is strange that your Mom lost 28 pounds in just two months. Usually with a surgery one doesn't have the energy to move about but still continue to eat the same amount of calories. Or did she just didn't feel like eating?

Yes, after surgery it can be disappointing as one thinks within weeks you are back to where you were prior to surgery. Surprise. Doesn't always work that way. I am going through that myself, broke my shoulder back early May and still cannot do 3/4 of the stuff I wanted because my arm just isn't cooperating, thus rehab x3 a week for the next 3 or 4 months.
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Thanks You so much Varonica91 you answer has been most helpful. You've reminded me of serveral areas that I'd forgotten. She did loose alot of blood during her surgery which left her anemic. She recieved 2 pints of blood after her surgery. she only weighs, at this time, 112 lbs. Before surgery she weighed 130 lbs. To me her doctors don't seem to concerned. I know she is 81, but before the surgery she was driving, going to church.... Now nothing. So what you said makes a lot of sense. She said last week that she was disappointed/depressed because she thought she would be back on her feet within a few weeks. I am meeting with a caregiver service this evening to come in Monday through Friday.
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Home health services were recommended. Home Health hasn't been consistant with their appointments or my Mom isn't getting up to let them in.
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Was she discharged from rehab as able to live on her own or were home health services recommended?
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Go and see your local health dept and see if they have any resources. She is 81 years old and it is not 2 months since she had the hip replacement. That surgery involves loosing a lot of blood which will have left her with anemia and weakness. She also had pneumonia another major debilitating disease. At her age it takes many months to recover from these illnesses and on top of that she is bipolar. Of course she does not want to get up in the morning it is too much effort, even to get out of bed and make a cup of coffee. I feel for her. She needs more help than you are able to give her. Hire an aide to come in five days a week while you are at work to make her some breakfast, help her shower and dress, a sweat suit is comfy and fine if that is acceptable to her. Make lunch or leave her something easy like soup or something easy to reheat.
As far as the medications are concerned discuss with her Dr which ones are necessary for her to continue and most importantly if they are once daily can they be taken in the evening after you leave work. It is also important for her to continue to do the exercises for her hip because the muscles become very weak. If you can get her to walk outside for a while in the evening even using the walker or a cane is fine or get her a rollator so she can walk a while then sit and rest and maybe talk to some of the other residents in the community. I have had a hip replacement and was 68 at the time am now 76 so i know how hard it is to recover so she's not playing for sympathy at his point but continue to encourage independence because you should definitely keep your job and her next step would be assisted living
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Thats just it. Her mind isn't clear at this time. Her memory, and congative thinging hasn't been clear since her last hospitlization. Like this morning when I called her she said "I can't figure out what to wear". I don't want to enable her, but I don't want the enevitable(sp?) to happen either. She was put back on her physic meds on the 17th. Im praying that they will kick in soon.
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If your Mom is of clear mind, and able to move able her apartment, she can try to motivate herself to get up and take her meds without you needing to come over every day. Don't enable her, otherwise she might find other things she "can't do".

The last thing you don't want to happen is that you start being called in on the carpet because you are arriving late.

You might want to check with your local council on aging to see if there are any programs where someone could go over to help your Mom in the morning. Otherwise, Mom will need to hire someone to help her.
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Keep that job!!! You need it to support yourself! Can you bring in some help for a half day to get her going?
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