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She broke her hip the week before Thanksgiving. Was doing great until a UTI and has regressed physically and mentally since. Rehab gave notice of discharge. She will not always stand. Moving to and from bathroom gets scared and may stop say she can't do it and push walker away. She is scared when walking. She can do it physically, but her brain is not cooperating. So I am trying to decide between taking her home or putting her in a facility. She is a fall risk so at home I will have to have someone there from about 10 am to 8:00 pm. The hours she would be up. I would want sensors to let me know if she tries to get up from her chair or bed. Perhaps need a hospital bed. A facility would give me my life back. But she requires continued coaching to eat her food, can not turn on a tv or music, cannot push a button to tell someone she needs to go to the bathroom (she IS continent at this time). I am considering CNA's in my home. Three times a week I would have two during the day so I have some freedom. At night she sleeps well so I would be caregiver. She has lost 15 pounds in two months in rehab with me spending often up to an hour encouraging her to eat. I fear she will not eat adequately without the encouragement. Also I do not want bathroom breaks overlooked and incontinance to be expedited as part of her life. To a degree I fear a facility simply cannot see to her particular needs and out of necessity there is some degree of "warehousing of the elderly" that occurs. Thoughts?

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I cannot get her out of bed and to a toilet or chair by myself as she does not help fully to support her weight. With a person on each side it is not a hard task. I would be the second person four days a week and I am thinking to have two care givers 3 days a week to give me three days a week that I could leave the house. I have been her caregiver for four years at home with one day a week that I have five hours free. It has been going on long enough that I am needing more me time. My brothers do not contribute to caregiving. This has been a pretty solitary experience for me. After four years I am beginning to REALLY need more time for me. It will make me better for her as my impatience in going to eventually make me unkind and I do not want to go there.
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I'm sorry to hear of the decline of your mother. At Stage 6, her care will be very intensive. I'd consider it more of a 3 shifts around the clock situation. If you can hire people to do that, then, that would be a start. Then there is mental and physical strain of being with her around the clock. It's a lot to consider.

I would start by discussing an assessment to determine what level of care that she needs. (Does she qualify for Hospice?) For patients who are immobile and incontinent, she likely needs around the clock, constant care. Plus, your house will need to fitted with handicapped access, safety bars, etc. She may ambulate better with a wheelchair?

As far as weight loss goes. Sometimes, the patient loses weight, regardless of what they eat. The body may lose its ability to process the nutrients. I'd discuss it with her doctor. Perhaps have her swallowing assessed. But, if you feel that you alone can provide her the best care, I encourage you to be very candid about your ability to do that long term. She could continue in this stage for years or decline and be bedridden, which requires even more hands on care around the clock.

My cousin, who has severe dementia, has received excellent care in her Memory Care unit, so perhaps, I am biased in their favor. They change the resident's undergarments when needed and also on a schedule, hand feed those who do not feed themselves, bathe them, dress them, comb their hair, administer their medication, take their blood pressure, temperature, etc. every day with much care and compassion. They are also younger than me and trained to work with dementia patients. They have her medical care done on site. Which is another consideration. You'll have to provide transportation for her to and from doctor appointments from your home, which is challenging if you are alone and she is immobile. It's doable, but, time consuming and expensive and may be stressful for her.

The MC unit also takes the residents into the activity room where they have a daily schedule for activities, according to their ability to participate. They do have a tv for those who are interested, but, at a certain stage, television is not something that most people with advanced dementia are attracted to. That was difficult for me to accept with my cousin, because she always loved tv, but, at Stage 6, she lost all interest. I think they lose the ability to follow what is going on and it just frustrates them or else they just don't understand it.

Are you able to leave the work force financially? That's another thing to consider.

I hope you can find some answers that help you with your decisions. I'd also read a lot of the posts on this board and see how people who care for loved ones alone in their home go through. It's usually heartbreaking. It's very rewarding to help care for a loved one, but, it can also take an incredible toll on your life. I wish you all the best.
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If it matters....I have been pretty much living in the rehab since she came here. I leave 3 nights a week from 8:30 - 8:30. And 5 hours off one day a week.
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As you probably know your mom will continue to deteriorate but if you are able, give home care a try and see how it goes. That way if your mom has to go to a facility at some point you will be reassured that you tried to keep her at home. And I'm glad you recognize that you need the help and time off instead of trying to do it all yourself.

I am wondering about something. You said that three times a week you would need two aides. Why two? Why not have one aide three times a week?
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Just FYI. I am an old maid of 58; never married, never had children. I retired and moved to her retirement house 2.5 hours away, leaving my friends behind. Thus I have no real friends of depth here, just kind neighbors. This has resulted in the solitary situation.
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Wittm1, you sound like a loving daughter. Your care of your mom is admirable, but, I would consider if you can stay out of employment permanently. Some people can't do that, but, if you can, that's a plus. I still would be very candid about your ability to be the sole caregiver for someone with such great needs in your home. I wouldn't underestimate the amount of outside help you would need so that you don't burn out or hurt yourself physically. I don't understand how you would manage even one-half day without help, if she needs two people to get her out of bed. So, she is already bedridden?

Plus, I would examine your comments about how you are already have impatience and how you are thinking that it will make you unkind. (See your post upthread.) I'd heed those emotions and be honest with the appropriateness of what you have stressed is not working for you. It seems you already have stated your concern.
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Eyerishlass and sunnygirl thank you for your thoughts. I assess her at stage six myself. She loves music, limited interest in TV. Since I have been here almost constantly and been her caregiver for four years I have a pretty good handle on her needs and rhythms. She does not need intense 24 hour care...more of a moderate 24 hours. She can articulate her needs and desires. Fortunately she has maintained a reasonably sweet temperament. I recognize that this will change in time.
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