Reflecting on our later years, we are all getting older.

[powderman]

As most of you know my Mom and Pattys Mom are 87 and 89 yrs old and not in real good health. The past 3 wks we've been visiting her Mom in a rehab ctr in Lou. Saw her yesterday and she could no longer stand up by herself, she gets good care there and likes it there. My heart goes out to some of them there. One old black lady in particular, she has dementia and has lost a lot of wt, has no teeth and wailed all the time. It sounded like a calf caught in a fence, loud, deep, gutteral. I felt that God wanted me to pray over her. One nurse said no, another said yes, I'll pray too. I found that she responded to my touch and  voice. Yesterday she was quiet, both my sil and a nurse said they actually saw her laugh. She's a human being and my heart goes out to her. One nurse asked, do you know her?? No, I don't. But you prayed for her?? Yes, I wanted her to know that God loves her. Her name is Diane Petty.
Another man wheels dwn the hall daily 3 or 4 inches at a time to the desk, waiting for his son to get him out of there, I've watched him for 3 wkks and only once saw a visitor. Another old lady in a wheelchair tries to escape and has made it outside, but they got her. Another old lady wanders from rm to rm, sometimes slipping outside.  Another old gent hollered out AHOY, AHOY, anybody out there?? This is a great place for Mom and she wants to be there, the others have been put there by their kids and cannot leave if they wanted to. Every one of these folks were once just like us but now have lost their independence and freedom. Something to think about. WE are heading to ILL in the morning to see my Mom, this chemo is making her pretty sick. POWDERMAN. 

[Empty Quiver]

We all go home one day. A dignified journey is the best we can hope for. You have brought a little dignity to those you touch. Well done sir.

[streak]

Powderman
 The power of prayer sometimes is a very soothing comforting feeling to certain people. Keep up the good work and prayers are sent for your loved ones who are
 in bad health.

[gomerdog]

I empathize with you, sir. My mother voluntarily decided to go into an assisted living facililty in about 2004. She was 80, and in relatively good shape, but was nearly blind because of macular degineration. she also had diabetes, which was complicated because of neuropothy. I would go up to see her at least once each week, watching her slowly decline. Her mind was still active, but her body was just wore out. She had a massive stroke on a November Saturday in 2008, and died 4 days later. While she was there, I watched other residents come and go. Most had no one that would visit them on a regular basis.
 
It's tough to watch your parents' lives come to an end in a not-so-dignified way. I do not want that for my two daughters. In a perfect world, I would die packing an elk quarter off a lonely ridge in Wyoming before I ever get to the point where I can't care for myself.
 
I wish the best for your mom.

[powderman]

My MIL got to play bingo yesterday , made a derby hat, and they took her outside to participate in Natl prayer day, it's an election yr so obummer allowed it this yr, 1st time in 4 years.  The staff there is great, if they come by for a test or anything and she is sleeping they come back later, certainly not like in the hospitols. Another ins policy kicked in and it will be good for several more mos. I seriously doubt she will leave there alive, but she's happy there and can leave whenever she wants. Unlike some there she still has control, and we want it that way. Seeing some of them trying so hard to walk and doing it is inspiring and many will improve and go home, others will die there. I could see the pride in some of their faces as they struggled with their walkers and kept on going because they want to get their lives back, and will. Others don't even want to try and have resolved themselves to a wheel chair. One old feller had me push him dwn the hall, I found out that he doesn't want to push himself and asks visitors to help him, the nurses really try to encourage him to build up his strength, he's the one who looks dwn the hall all day for his son to come and take him home.  A lot of them are lonely and get no visitors, I've looked in on several and talked with them, and pray if they like. Anyway, I thought this might get some of us to thinking about those in this position and maybe have a better understanding of their needs. We are taking my wifes laptop but I doubt I'll use it, see ya in 4 or 5 days. POWDERMAN. 

[BUGEYE]

my MIL had dementia due to a stroke, and even though she knew nobody, she still clutched her Bible.  the kids put some similar books on her nightstand to see what would happen. she always picked her Bible.  I think there is a lesson in that.......

[bulletstuffer]

I think there is a lesson in everything.  If everyone spend one day in a nursing home when they are younger it would give them much more respect for the gift of youth.


Wishing you the best,



Bulletstuffer

[kennyd]

Dad had a heart attack and died that day in hospital, Mom was in hospice already, and followed 6 weeks later.  Both kept their minds pretty well.  Care facilities are one of the more miserable places you can find.  One old work friend is taking care of his wife at home but is wearing out, another has his wife in a dementia facility, but can take her out for day trips.  My old school bud has his dad in an Alzheimers home;


Now 11 years later, my wife has breast cancer 2x (said to be in remission), a hip replaced, knee, nasty immune disease; I have some prostate bothers, ache all over in the morning..  If I can hold out 1 more year I can get medicare which will reduce my insurance cost, AND it will follow me if I quit working (wife has it now.) 


Medical and care costs are astronomical; something has to give as there are too many ofg us getting along in years. 


Like the song:  "The best you can hope for is to die in your sleep".


I really want to take the grandsons elk hunting, but they are 3 and 4, so I will be in my 70's when they are old enough, the other grandpa is 8 years older than I, and he is one of my hunting pards.