Just got back from the hospital. My mom just had an emergency appendecami (sp). My wife took her to the emergency room this morning about an hour after I left for work.

What was a little disconcerting is that she (my mom) had her medical power of attorney and living will already in her purse. It's a good thing and all, but it's wierd to think of those things.

Hope she recovers fully, LKS, it's good that she got to the doc right away.

Sounds like your mom has really covered her bases, with the living will and P.O.A. But I agree, it's a little disconcerting when you find out that they have already given so much thought to such things. You always expect your parents to be around for ever, after all, they have always been there. Sometimes it's a good wake-up call.

BTW: "appendectomy" The "tomy" means to cut it out, I think. As in vasectomy. And tracheotomy. Episeotomy. Etc.

And way to go, use the so-called "Passions" board for just about anything. Let's rename it the "Hey, Take a Look at This" forum.

Yeah, I knew I spelled it wrong, but was too rushed to look it up.

She's still in the hospital, some sort of infection from the appendix (it may have leaked or something when the took it out I guess).

As for this forum - I proclaim it "Open for anything"!

That sucks, I guess infections are fairly common when dealing with the appendix. My understanding is that it is something of a collector for the bad stuff, including toxins, that pass through the g.i. tract.

With good care, she will be out soon, eh?

Yep, my wife insisted (!) that she come stay with us for a few days once she's been released from the hospital. She (my wife) is worried that my mom won't be able to cook and stuff for herself right away.

LKS it seems that we are in similar situations. My Dad has been in and out of the hospital and nursing home over the past few months.

I am the closest geographically of the children in the family, so I have been the main helper throughout the situation. I help out around the house, and take the role of communicator to my 3 siblings so that they are aware of what is happening with the folks.

My parents are both in their early 80's and over the past few years the roles of who takes care of whom have completely reversed. I guess the hardest thing for me has been the feeling of responsiblity I have to always see that they are doing okay.

LKS, I can certainly empathize with the situation you are facing, and I wish you all the best.

As far as any of us who are doing the best we can to help our aging parents I just say hang in there and do your best. Once they are gone you will be able to look yourself in the mirror and know you did right by them when they needed you.

> As far as any of us who are doing the best we can to
> help our aging parents I just say hang in there and
> do your best. Once they are gone you will be able to
> look yourself in the mirror and know you did right by
> them when they needed you.

I think you've nailed that one. Knowing you did the right thing when called upon is a satisfying feeling.

My mom fell again this weekend. She's sporting two black eyes, a skinned knee, and a ruined lens on her glasses.

Makes a guy worry, ya know?

Just trying to follow the beginning of this thread so bare with me....

is she still living with you? If so she may need the help of a pro now and may have to have her go into assisted living. When my wife had to make this decision for her mother, we had the problem of the rest of her siblings (7 of them) who said, "NO Mom should live at home, you can take care of her"). We sent her to a home anyway and I think she lived comfortably with the care needed for the rest of her days. When she died we felt we did the right thing.

quote:

Originally posted by LKS:
My mom fell again this weekend. She's sporting two black eyes, a skinned knee, and a ruined lens on her glasses.

Makes a guy worry, ya know?

Well that is a real danger sign, my mother started falling and my sister was living with her,had to rearrange things, keep a walker nearby and really try to watch her. Did she trip over something, or did she get dizzy?

Good quotes, by the way, agree 100%.

quote:

Originally posted by john1520:
Just trying to follow the beginning of this thread so bare with me....

is she still living with you? If so she may need the help of a pro now and may have to have her go into assisted living. When my wife had to make this decision for her mother, we had the problem of the rest of her siblings (7 of them) who said, "NO Mom should live at home, you can take care of her"). We sent her to a home anyway and I think she lived comfortably with the care needed for the rest of her days. When she died we felt we did the right thing.

She's in a duplex in a retirement village. The plan is that she'd move to an assisted living apartment when needed. There's no way she's ready to make that move, but we at least have a plan for later on down the line.

quote:

Originally posted by rockhead:

quote:

Originally posted by LKS:
My mom fell again this weekend. She's sporting two black eyes, a skinned knee, and a ruined lens on her glasses.

Makes a guy worry, ya know?

Well that is a real danger sign, my mother started falling and my sister was living with her,had to rearrange things, keep a walker nearby and really try to watch her. Did she trip over something, or did she get dizzy?

Good quotes, by the way, agree 100%.

Didn't trip and says she wasn't dizzy. She was out in her driveway. If it had been in her house, I could understand it (mom's never been the best housekeeper). This was on smooth, dry, clean concrete.

My wife and I are keeping an eye on her.

quote:

Originally posted by LKS:

quote:

Originally posted by john1520:
Just trying to follow the beginning of this thread so bare with me....

is she still living with you? If so she may need the help of a pro now and may have to have her go into assisted living. When my wife had to make this decision for her mother, we had the problem of the rest of her siblings (7 of them) who said, "NO Mom should live at home, you can take care of her"). We sent her to a home anyway and I think she lived comfortably with the care needed for the rest of her days. When she died we felt we did the right thing.

She's in a duplex in a retirement village. The plan is that she'd move to an assisted living apartment when needed. There's no way she's ready to make that move, but we at least have a plan for later on down the line.

Isn't there always help available in those retirement villages for the elderly? Hopefully they would be available in the case of an emergency.

Yeah, she has an emergency button that she can press.

Thanks for all the replies guys.