Friday, September 14, 2007
dodged that bullet
So last night I was talking to my father and he said they had been in for two days so he thought they might go to the VFW for lunch. It freaked me out. He really doesn't get that life has changed. They had so many good years in the apt but now they need to stay close to home.
He still drives at 88 but if I am in the car with him, I drive and I won't let him drive the kids anymore I guess that says it all but how do I know when he really can't/shouldn't drive at all anymore? My ex is already salivating that their car will go to Eli. What an ass. It will go to me, thank you. :)
I just think he shouldn't be dragging my mother here and there anymore. But I didn't know how to say that. He said that PT was coming for an evaluation this morning so I ran over to Glen Meadows and got there before the PT guy. I am glad I did. They did therapy in the apt. She is okayed (medicare) for PT for 30 days ... which is great! He is working on balance which is the issue. From now on though my father will have to get her to the wellness center which I think is fine because it gets them out of the apt and into the community.
Although my father says that getting her in the wheelchair to the dining room is almost more than he can handle. Maybe they should have moved into an apt which is in the same building but the only one available at the time was really small and was claustrophobic. This place with the patio is just so much nicer.
Well if he truly can't do it anymore, they will just have to pay for someone to come down and get them there and back. The beauty of this place even if they can't see it. But I do want them to take advantage of the community more than just dinner. And if it gets really bad they can move into an apt or assisted living. One day at a time, one day at a time. ....
Anyhoo, I was able to use the fact that Perring Parkway said that she needed additional therapy to bring up that I would feel better if they just stuck close to home while she is doing the PT. My father was like .. we aren't going anywhere and I said you said yesterday you were thinking about going to the VFW for lunch today. ugh.
So after PT I suggested that we go to the farmers market at the manor house (where apts and assisted living is). On Fridays a local farmer brings stuff to sell. It is great. They got corn and green tomatoes for lunch and some fruit. I got green beans that I got two weeks ago that were fab. She said they picked them on the way there so they were only a couple of hours old. yum.
Oh the people all hang out there around the farmers stand and this woman has a persian cat on a leash that sits on the basket of her walker. OMG. It is so cute. Miss Kitty. I told her she didn't try really hard on a name. She laughed. I love teasing old people. Everyone stops and says hello to MIss Kitty who meows like Atlantis, I mean talks.
So then when we got back to the apt. I unwrapped the ornaments. It was my mother's job but she really doesn't stick with anything more than a few minutes. She had only done a few all week. I got all the little lovely chachkas out and arranged them. Helped my father with the washer and dryer (again). Then I was checking my mothers dresser and realized that I bought the wrong kind of diapers. they weren't underwear. Apparently she had a fit and my father had to put it on this morning because you ahve to use the tapes. So I ran up to the store there and they did have the right kind (at $16 thank you very much, I have to get my father to start paying me back for stuff!). Because otherwise I was going to have to buy the right ones and get them over there.
People kept stopping by and the welcoming committee was coming at 4:30 and then a woman who writes for the newsletter came by and wanted to have dinner with them to interview them and ... it is very nice but tiring. And no one can hear. So I have to translate for everyone. For some reason not having a very high voice and being loud, old people can understand me.
So that was 4 hours well spent. Not going there (hopefully) until Monday. I am going to bring the kids and we will all eat in the dining room.
So no fighting today. Things are somewhat calming down. As I was leaving I told my mother not to put her diapers in the hamper, they can't be washed and she said she didn't do that but we found one in the hamper and one used one in her dresser. Then my father says to me at the door ... see what I have to put up with, I have to watch her every minute. I said ...well what is the alternative? And what is?
And so it goes ....
He still drives at 88 but if I am in the car with him, I drive and I won't let him drive the kids anymore I guess that says it all but how do I know when he really can't/shouldn't drive at all anymore? My ex is already salivating that their car will go to Eli. What an ass. It will go to me, thank you. :)
I just think he shouldn't be dragging my mother here and there anymore. But I didn't know how to say that. He said that PT was coming for an evaluation this morning so I ran over to Glen Meadows and got there before the PT guy. I am glad I did. They did therapy in the apt. She is okayed (medicare) for PT for 30 days ... which is great! He is working on balance which is the issue. From now on though my father will have to get her to the wellness center which I think is fine because it gets them out of the apt and into the community.
Although my father says that getting her in the wheelchair to the dining room is almost more than he can handle. Maybe they should have moved into an apt which is in the same building but the only one available at the time was really small and was claustrophobic. This place with the patio is just so much nicer.
Well if he truly can't do it anymore, they will just have to pay for someone to come down and get them there and back. The beauty of this place even if they can't see it. But I do want them to take advantage of the community more than just dinner. And if it gets really bad they can move into an apt or assisted living. One day at a time, one day at a time. ....
Anyhoo, I was able to use the fact that Perring Parkway said that she needed additional therapy to bring up that I would feel better if they just stuck close to home while she is doing the PT. My father was like .. we aren't going anywhere and I said you said yesterday you were thinking about going to the VFW for lunch today. ugh.
So after PT I suggested that we go to the farmers market at the manor house (where apts and assisted living is). On Fridays a local farmer brings stuff to sell. It is great. They got corn and green tomatoes for lunch and some fruit. I got green beans that I got two weeks ago that were fab. She said they picked them on the way there so they were only a couple of hours old. yum.
Oh the people all hang out there around the farmers stand and this woman has a persian cat on a leash that sits on the basket of her walker. OMG. It is so cute. Miss Kitty. I told her she didn't try really hard on a name. She laughed. I love teasing old people. Everyone stops and says hello to MIss Kitty who meows like Atlantis, I mean talks.
So then when we got back to the apt. I unwrapped the ornaments. It was my mother's job but she really doesn't stick with anything more than a few minutes. She had only done a few all week. I got all the little lovely chachkas out and arranged them. Helped my father with the washer and dryer (again). Then I was checking my mothers dresser and realized that I bought the wrong kind of diapers. they weren't underwear. Apparently she had a fit and my father had to put it on this morning because you ahve to use the tapes. So I ran up to the store there and they did have the right kind (at $16 thank you very much, I have to get my father to start paying me back for stuff!). Because otherwise I was going to have to buy the right ones and get them over there.
People kept stopping by and the welcoming committee was coming at 4:30 and then a woman who writes for the newsletter came by and wanted to have dinner with them to interview them and ... it is very nice but tiring. And no one can hear. So I have to translate for everyone. For some reason not having a very high voice and being loud, old people can understand me.
So that was 4 hours well spent. Not going there (hopefully) until Monday. I am going to bring the kids and we will all eat in the dining room.
So no fighting today. Things are somewhat calming down. As I was leaving I told my mother not to put her diapers in the hamper, they can't be washed and she said she didn't do that but we found one in the hamper and one used one in her dresser. Then my father says to me at the door ... see what I have to put up with, I have to watch her every minute. I said ...well what is the alternative? And what is?
And so it goes ....
