The New Year with Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad holding hands Christmas Day at Rehab

This has definitely been a year full of changes and adjustments.  Looking back, I can see the plan that God had set in place.  We moved to a bigger house near our kids and grandkids, but this bigger house may also be home to my parents.  I was laid off in August of 2011 and I thoroughly believe that I was given 3 months to myself at our new home to rest mentally and physically.  The time off also prepared me for my new job as caregiver for my parents.  This may be for the long term or it may be for the short term.  We are taking one day at a time right now.  

We were blessed to start the New Year with my mom coming home early.  She was doing so well at Rehab that they released her early!   She definitely has come along way.  Originally when she was first admitted to the hospital she could not move her right arm or her right leg.  Today she can walk (slowly) with the use of a cane.  She also has regained use of her right arm. 

mom and dad eating dinner in garage

As we finished dinner tonight, there was a discussion regarding the next step.  The next step here is the long term care for mom and dad.  Even if mom does recover completely, she will not be able to care for dad.  He needs constant supervision and this includes during the night.  Someone needs to get up with him and make sure he gets to the bathroom without falling.   He gets up about three times a night.  It does make for a long night.


Mom is on board with moving out to our house.  Dad wants nothing to do with it.  He is old and does not like change.at.all.  He wants to stay here and that is that.  This is where I tell him the rest of the story.  At this point, mom has not told dad about her cancer coming back.  I guess she could not bring herself to tell him.  So with her permission, I told him. 

I told him mom needs help with him, and that she also will need help herself especially if radiation is the treatment for her cancer.  He did not really respond, but he was listening.  I asserted myself (which was hard to do) and told him that this is the way it is going to be.  It is not all about him this time, it is about mom.  Mom needs to get better and she needs to not have to worry about him so much. 

Tomorrow we are all going out to my home and let my dad have a look around.  It will be his first time visiting our new home and I am excited for him to see it.  It will soon be his new home too.  I also presented to my parents the  financial aspects of this arrangement.  I think that went well too. 


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