Address Book
In cleaning mom’s apartment, I found all manner of note/address books. One in particular caught my attention. It went like this: A – Her assisted living community, apartment number and phone number. Her name did not start with A. D – Our last name starts here… She had her Island house number listed, the Island […]
Move Two
Yesterday we rented a 15’ U-Haul truck to pick up mom’s furniture. The facilities team at mom’s AL community moved everything from the apartment to the loading dock. It took less than an hour to load everything. The biggest/heaviest item went in first, and a staff member happened to stroll out as we were raising […]
Move One
I spent seven hours at mom’s AL community on Friday, after receiving a special dispensation from the GM’s supervisor, packing up mom’s apartment. Right now no is allowed in the community that isn’t ‘essential.’ Perhaps it was my packing instructions that led to the GM to ask if I could come in and take care […]
7 years, 2 months
This morning was the first I realized my parents both passed on the 22nd, 7-years, 2-months apart. I don’t go in for a whole lot of woo-woo, but given mom’s innate talent (which she honed as a young woman) for aim, I am left wondering!
Dealing With Details Help…
Another dozen details were attended to today, including helping my daughter move a few things out of mom’s storage, she had tucked away, so I can use the space for things I’ll bring from mom’s apartment on Friday, and over the weekend. I find focusing on details to be very helpful… It gives me a […]
Taking Care of Business
I found today a tad frustrating due to long hold times, websites not responding well, and dropped calls. I started in on tasks one does after their parent passes. The wins were: Finding out the the Neptune Society will inform Medicare and her prescription insurance plan about her passing. Two fewer call, and way less […]
Communicating
Today was spent communicating with people. And taking a nap. I reached out to those that needed to hear first hand that mom had passed, rather than hear from someone who heard from someone else. You’re probably thinking, “Why the fuck does that matter??” Well, in the greater scheme of things, you’re right it doesn’t, […]
12:10
Mom passed just after noon today. For those who first hear this here, rather than from me personally, I’m so very sorry. She spent her last 17-hours in comfort, and tended by incredible hospital staff. We were also treated with incredible dignity and grace. I wrote mom a note and placed it her hand before […]
Stroke
4:50AM 5/22/2020 I’m at one of our regional hospitals, on the 18th floor, my daughter asleep next to me, listening to my mother breath, Though her breathing rattling and labored, she is comfortable, hands and face relaxed, her body not fighting. She had a ‘huge hemorrhagic stroke at some point yesterday, probably after dinner, A […]
Assessment
Mom is being newly assessed for bathing, toileting and dressing. All warranted. I pushed back on the existing ‘escorting’ points given that all residents have been isolated in their apartments since mid-March. Very, very long story short, I’ve agreed to a 30 point care-credit from 3/15 to 6/30, assuming things open up by then. I […]
Dementia Dance - Travels with Mom 