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I wasn't sure
about joining because it is still very painful for me.My
husband Arnold and I took care of his mom and my mom at the
same time.They both had serious health problems and severe
dementia.I went home to care for my mom and it was hard as it was a 3 hour round trip.My family members would look in on mom but were not the most cooperative.I'm sure some of you probably have the same problem.Both moms had full,active lives and it was horrible to see their health and mind decline.We took care of all their needs and we would do it all again.I lost my mom a year ago and Arnolds mom 2 years ago and we still feel the pain,so you will also be helping me and I'll gladly share anything that will make it easier for you.
husband Arnold and I took care of his mom and my mom at the
same time.They both had serious health problems and severe
dementia.I went home to care for my mom and it was hard as it was a 3 hour round trip.My family members would look in on mom but were not the most cooperative.I'm sure some of you probably have the same problem.Both moms had full,active lives and it was horrible to see their health and mind decline.We took care of all their needs and we would do it all again.I lost my mom a year ago and Arnolds mom 2 years ago and we still feel the pain,so you will also be helping me and I'll gladly share anything that will make it easier for you.
Gift Ideas
Christmas is coming soon and it's always difficult to know what might be nice for those we care for. I was prompted to send this by an another idea I received from my Kim Komando (computer guru) subscription for "tip of the day." But before I give you the link to that tip, I wanted to list a few things that I've found to be very well received by my clients. 1) Probably the Most Popular: Birdfeeders/houses -- and once they get hooked in looking for their birds each day, I buy a Guide that we use to identify the different birds together. 2) Jigsaw puzzles (large size pieces, 300 or less). It stimulates their mind and they love doing something that keeps both of us so involved with each other. 3) Games for the Computer if they're amenable to that. It often takes a little coaxing, but you'd be surprised how many find they've become addicted! 4) Enlarge some crossword puzzles (or wordfinds), hang it up, and then work on completing it with them. 5) Weekly bouquet of flowers (you'd be surprised how quickly "flower day" becomes an anticipated event for them). 6) a 2-cup coffee maker, dessert of the day, and a set time for the your "just for you treat time" each day. A "DON'T" purchase are those Jumbo playing cards. When I took my first pack to one of my ladies, we both had a good laugh at how absurd they were. They were too big for ME to even hold. If anyone has a good idea as to how to use them, I'd love to hear it. They've been sitting in my closet for months now.
As for the gift I originally mentioned, it's a self-made, large size personal phonebook. I haven't tried it, but it sounds like a great idea for family members to create.
Q: I have a 92-year-old aunt who has trouble living on her own. She has problems seeing, and must use a magnifying glass to read. I'd like to make her a personal phonebook. It will need large letters and a picture of each person. Is there an easy way to make this?
A: This is a great project. Your aunt is really going to benefit from this. And I'll bet other readers would like to do the same thing. Plus, it's actually pretty easy.
First, think about how you want to format this phonebook. I'd put two contacts on each page. That way the pictures and text can be big enough.
You're going to print out these contacts. You have a couple of options there. You can just print them out on paper. And that works. A more versatile option may be labels. You can buy sheets of printable labels. These can be stuck in a book, or wherever you want them.
I recommend using Avery labels. Their easy-to-use label templates are already in Microsoft Word 2007. And they can be easily downloaded for earlier versions of Word. You can find their printable labels at many office supply stores.
Premade or custom?
I can (and will) show you how to customize the template. But I've also done the work for you. At the end of this tip you'll find a download link. Click on it and you'll get a Word document. Then just fill in the blanks and print.
You may not want to use my template. So, I'll show you how to build one yourself. You can lay it out however you'd like.
If you plan to print on labels, start by visiting Avery's site. What you do will depend on which version of Office you have.
If using Office 2007, the Avery templates are already in Word. But they are categorized by product number. If you've purchased the labels, the number is on the box. If not, get it from the Web site. Find the product you want, and take down the product number.
Using shipping labels
I'm going to use large, two-per-sheet shipping labels. The product number is 18126.
If using Office 2003, you'll need to download a template. On the Avery site, click Find a Template. Choose Templates for Microsoft Word. Then download whichever template you want. I recommend "Shipping Label – Weatherproof, 2 per sheet."
The downloaded template is actually a preformatted Word document. Just open it and customize from there.
Know someone who could benefit from this? Check here for more information. view link
As for the gift I originally mentioned, it's a self-made, large size personal phonebook. I haven't tried it, but it sounds like a great idea for family members to create.
Q: I have a 92-year-old aunt who has trouble living on her own. She has problems seeing, and must use a magnifying glass to read. I'd like to make her a personal phonebook. It will need large letters and a picture of each person. Is there an easy way to make this?
A: This is a great project. Your aunt is really going to benefit from this. And I'll bet other readers would like to do the same thing. Plus, it's actually pretty easy.
First, think about how you want to format this phonebook. I'd put two contacts on each page. That way the pictures and text can be big enough.
You're going to print out these contacts. You have a couple of options there. You can just print them out on paper. And that works. A more versatile option may be labels. You can buy sheets of printable labels. These can be stuck in a book, or wherever you want them.
I recommend using Avery labels. Their easy-to-use label templates are already in Microsoft Word 2007. And they can be easily downloaded for earlier versions of Word. You can find their printable labels at many office supply stores.
Premade or custom?
I can (and will) show you how to customize the template. But I've also done the work for you. At the end of this tip you'll find a download link. Click on it and you'll get a Word document. Then just fill in the blanks and print.
You may not want to use my template. So, I'll show you how to build one yourself. You can lay it out however you'd like.
If you plan to print on labels, start by visiting Avery's site. What you do will depend on which version of Office you have.
If using Office 2007, the Avery templates are already in Word. But they are categorized by product number. If you've purchased the labels, the number is on the box. If not, get it from the Web site. Find the product you want, and take down the product number.
Using shipping labels
I'm going to use large, two-per-sheet shipping labels. The product number is 18126.
If using Office 2003, you'll need to download a template. On the Avery site, click Find a Template. Choose Templates for Microsoft Word. Then download whichever template you want. I recommend "Shipping Label – Weatherproof, 2 per sheet."
The downloaded template is actually a preformatted Word document. Just open it and customize from there.
Know someone who could benefit from this? Check here for more information. view link
Just for Grins and SaltFlatt
A man owned a small farm in East Texas. The Department of Employment & Pensions claimed he was not paying proper wages to his staff and sent a representative out to interview him.
'I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,'
demanded the rep.
'Well,' replied the farmer, 'there's my farm hand
who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $400 a week plus free room and board.
The cook/housekeeper has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $300 per week plus free room and board.
Then there's the half-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $20 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of whisky every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally.'
'That's the guy I want to talk to...the half-wit,' says
the agent.
'That would be me,' replied the farmer.
'I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,'
demanded the rep.
'Well,' replied the farmer, 'there's my farm hand
who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $400 a week plus free room and board.
The cook/housekeeper has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $300 per week plus free room and board.
Then there's the half-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $20 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of whisky every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally.'
'That's the guy I want to talk to...the half-wit,' says
the agent.
'That would be me,' replied the farmer.
New to Group
Hi all!
I am relatively new to eons and brand new to this group. I am a cancer survivor and until Dec '07 was sole caregiver to my Dad. At that time he was hospitalized and then transferred to a skilled nursing facility. Since, I have been dealing with such guilt...cancer was a sinch compared to this. He is in the early stages of dementia most times not knowing me or where he is. My Mom passed away in '03 and he's been declining since. My logical mind knows he needs this level of care and he is well cared for overall. My emotional mind hates seeing him lying in bed totally dependent on others for his care, wondering if all staff treat him well. He cannot let us know if they do not.
Will I ever move beyond the guilt?
I am relatively new to eons and brand new to this group. I am a cancer survivor and until Dec '07 was sole caregiver to my Dad. At that time he was hospitalized and then transferred to a skilled nursing facility. Since, I have been dealing with such guilt...cancer was a sinch compared to this. He is in the early stages of dementia most times not knowing me or where he is. My Mom passed away in '03 and he's been declining since. My logical mind knows he needs this level of care and he is well cared for overall. My emotional mind hates seeing him lying in bed totally dependent on others for his care, wondering if all staff treat him well. He cannot let us know if they do not.
Will I ever move beyond the guilt?
A Little Update--
Since I last wrote my Mother seems to be in a holding state, yet she is even more quiet than she has ever been. When we take her off the ventilator for a short break, I thought she would want to talk, but I have found out it is very difficult for her and I don't think she wants to talk. I watch her and it is like she is willing herself to be in this very removed state.
Yesterday I certainly had another good scare with my Mother. We think she had a pulmonary embolism. Suddenly she started breathing 40 or more breaths a minute which continued for over 6 hours. Usually they clear within 24 hours. And it did=--this morning she was back to her normal self.
I don't think I am one of those that gets used to all this stuff happening, but I am calmer each time....but not calm!
Everyone have a great Sunday!
Thirdchance
Yesterday I certainly had another good scare with my Mother. We think she had a pulmonary embolism. Suddenly she started breathing 40 or more breaths a minute which continued for over 6 hours. Usually they clear within 24 hours. And it did=--this morning she was back to her normal self.
I don't think I am one of those that gets used to all this stuff happening, but I am calmer each time....but not calm!
Everyone have a great Sunday!
Thirdchance
Hello
Hello everyone, my name is Shariboo a.k.a. Shari. I was asked to join this group because I lost my only son almost 2 yrs. ago on Nov.30th. At Thanksgiving that evening we were called to go pick up my husband's mother because she was at someones house for dinner and she drank a few glasses of wine after dinner and fell twice and told my husband someone needed to come get her in S.C. and put her in assisted living. We live in Delaware, a 10-11 hrs away. His brother lives in N.C. only 5 hrs away and refused to go. So my husband and I left right after dinner drove 10 hours down there and got there at 7 a.m. at whosever house it was, stopped at his moms, took a nap while she did her pscking for about 2 weeks. He got up and drove 10 hrs. back to Delaware got home at midnite and had to be in work by 7am. Anyway I'm sorry but I wantd to tell the story as clearly as I can so it will be understood. When she got here the first thing she asked Bob to do was take her to the liquor store and buy her 2 botles of wine. The Thursday after that my son was killed and she was drinking her wine and clapping, making smart remarks about watching tv soap opera's all day all the while clapping like it was a celebration that my son was dead. When Bob asked his mother if she would go to the funeral out of resprct for me. She said no, I did't know him that well. She would rather stay at home and drink her wine. That hurt me deeply to the point I told her no more drinking. My nerves where shot at this point, I lost my bestfriend and son a week,and gained my worst nightmare and continues to be almost 2 years later.
I know it's not all my fault. If she comes out in the living
room, she does nothing but grits her teeth which drives me crazy. I ask her to please stop gritting her teeth, she'll be okay for about 5 minutes and then I tell her to go in her room and watch her tv. I know she is 84 but all my husband asks her to do is sign up every Friday for the Senior Center bus. She never does it, my husband calls every Friday to sign her up. Then he asks her to fold the laundry when it comes out of the dryer. She does that but puts all of the clothes on our bed, which would be fine if she didn't include her clothes. My husband gets aggrivated too but neither of us want to put her in asisted living. She can still take care of herself hygine wise(My husband has to reminder every week to get a shower and wash her hair.)But other than these few irritating things she seems ok physically. However she has no idea what day date or year it is. I've had her to the doctor who gave her a test and said she was fine. He doesn't live with her everyday. I can not do alot because I am disabled, but I do more than she does and by doing that I am taking a chance at injuring
myself even more. I am at my wits end. I can't deal with her, anymore. I am still trying to come to grips that my son is dead. I just don't know what to do now. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I am seriously thinking about leaving one day when my husband is at work & she is at the Senior Center. This has nothing to do with my husband, I love him dearly.
I know it's not all my fault. If she comes out in the living
room, she does nothing but grits her teeth which drives me crazy. I ask her to please stop gritting her teeth, she'll be okay for about 5 minutes and then I tell her to go in her room and watch her tv. I know she is 84 but all my husband asks her to do is sign up every Friday for the Senior Center bus. She never does it, my husband calls every Friday to sign her up. Then he asks her to fold the laundry when it comes out of the dryer. She does that but puts all of the clothes on our bed, which would be fine if she didn't include her clothes. My husband gets aggrivated too but neither of us want to put her in asisted living. She can still take care of herself hygine wise(My husband has to reminder every week to get a shower and wash her hair.)But other than these few irritating things she seems ok physically. However she has no idea what day date or year it is. I've had her to the doctor who gave her a test and said she was fine. He doesn't live with her everyday. I can not do alot because I am disabled, but I do more than she does and by doing that I am taking a chance at injuring
myself even more. I am at my wits end. I can't deal with her, anymore. I am still trying to come to grips that my son is dead. I just don't know what to do now. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I am seriously thinking about leaving one day when my husband is at work & she is at the Senior Center. This has nothing to do with my husband, I love him dearly.
