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View Full Version : Suggestions/Advice for live in care taker


Jestine
06-13-2002, 06:18 PM
My grandmother was just put back in the hospital. She has a lot of medical conditions, as she is in her eighties.

She has a very nice lady care taker who has become very close to her, and who comes by for four hours everyday to help her out. But my grandma is to the point where she needs around the clock care. In her house she has her respirator, and everything else she needs on a daily basis. She basically has everything at home, minus the hospital itself.

She does not want to go into a retirement home, and also she doesn't want a live in care taker either. But those are really the only choices left.

All of the family lives in different states, so it isn't something where we can take turns going there everyday to care for her.

My grandma is a very difficult person for most people to be around, and she isn't very friendly to most people. My mother and grandma have never gotten along, and my sister doesn't like the way she is either, so they are not willing to get involved to do anything other than put her in a retirement home. I'm not so sure they would be able to take care of her anyways, since they both have their own lives.

My mother wants to get involved as far as her will and property (she doesn't want the state to take the house, which is paid for) and would like to get the rights to the house (if I said that right) so she can sell it.

I'm not in a position my self to take care of my grandma. I have my business which started up a year ago, I don't have very much money, and most of all I don't think I would be capable to care for her on my own.

With that said...

The way I feel about it is, my grandmother is not going to be around very much longer, and am trying to figure out what I can do to help, where she can be happy until she is gone. I would like for her to be able to stay at home, since that is where she is happy. But the best I figure that I can do is to go up there to see her once a month if possible. I've tried to talk to my mother about this, but she only wants to talk about the things my grandmother does and has done wrong. Talking about that is not going to deal with what is going on, and I don't think she is going to let it go...so there is no help on that end.

I know she will not openly welcome the idea of having a care taker live with her, but she will most likely be more open to that idea than to be put in a home.

How do I go about finding a live in care taker? I have never dealt with this before. What are the chances of finding a care taker who will be able (or willing) to put up with someone who is so difficult, and who will also take good care of her and be trustworthy? Or if you have a recommendation of a care taker/service in Ohio, that would be helpful as well.

Even if you don't have an answer for any of these questions, any idea or suggestions would be helpful. I think I am pretty much on my own with this now, and I'm not sure what to do about the situation.

Thanks,
Jestine

Jestine
06-13-2002, 07:22 PM
Also, does medicare pay for any part of inhome care?

Rainfeather
06-13-2002, 09:09 PM
Jestine...

I'm not to sure if this will help, but you could try talking to your local hospital (social services dept.). Even if that is not where she is they might be able to give you some ideas or possible soultions. You may even need to talk to their Hospice Unit as they may have even more info then the others. Also see if you can find your local Dept. of Rehab. Services, or the Dept. of Aging.

These are the best ideas I have as a place to start. Some of them may even be able to put you in contact with who you would need to work with in her area.

Good Luck with your Grandma.

Rainfeather

nanna02
06-14-2002, 12:37 AM
Hi Jestine..
I am so sorry that you have been put in this situation!! It is sad that these days families don't seem to come together very well like they used to in the old days.. everyone is either living so far from each other, or family disagreements , or work commitments cut off the families from being capable to function as they would like to, and so , someone like yourself is landed with the whole problem on your shoulders!!.. That is not fair , Jestine..

We don't know why your Mum and her Mum don't get on, .. but isn't it sad that your Grandma and her daughter won't obviously get a chance to resolve things before the old lady passes on?..
Your Grandma is very lucky that YOU are at least caring about her and trying to do your best for her.. You have a Kind Heart.. even if you can't do a lot financially , or travel there all the time.. YOU CARE Jestine .. and that is MORE important than anything else !!..
You say your G/ma isn't very pleasant to people; well, in my experience, I had an elderly Aunt who was like that , and it wasn't till she became ill and ended up in a Rest Home that I discovered she had been mentally ill for years.. not always obvious as it was " disguised" .. we thought she was just being a bitter jealous person etc... Yet, I used to ignore that part of her and still bothered with her , I was her only real friend..
so maybe there could be unresolved mental problems or sad experiences thatyour G/Ma has never revealed to anyone.. that make her feel unhappy in herself..? the poor wee lady..Then again, that doesn't help your dilemma, does it?
I think the above suggestions from Rainfeather are great! and wish you luck in your efforts to get some help Jestine!! My thoughts are with you.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Let's know how you get on?.. Love belle xxx

Life is SO complicated !!..



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A Friend!

Jestine
06-15-2002, 07:46 AM
Thank you both very much for the help, and for the kind words...I really do appreciate it. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Jestine

nanna02
06-19-2002, 08:00 PM
Hey Jestine .. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
How are you going?.. Anything good happened yet?.. Thinking of you and your G/Ma..
Love .. Belle NZ.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

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A Friend!

Jestine
09-19-2002, 01:57 PM
Hey Belle,
Thanks...
Sorry it took me a bit to respond back. Well I thought I'd let you know that my Grandma just passed away last Friday morning. I wasn't there when she left, but a lady who visits her often told me she looked very peaceful.

I was up there just two weeks ago to see her, because she was put back into the hospital again. She got out while I was there and she seemed okay to me...she didn't look the best, but overall she seemed okay.

I'm just glad that I got to go up there right before to see her. When my Grandpa passed away I didn't see him for quite a while before, and I always wish I had gone up there to see them.

At least now they are both in a better place, and they are together to drive each other playfully nuts like they always did. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Jestine

 
 
 




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