The old people - another update
Kel’s mom is getting worse.
Her diabetes, previously requiring only two (I think) shots a day, now requires regular monitoring and shots or snacks (sugar). This came about a couple of months ago when she woke up in the middle of the night and started babbling manically. Since coming home from Carrington Place, she avoids talking whenever possible. She’s embarrassed because she can never say the right words. That night, she talked more than she had the previous year (not that it made ANY sense). When it happened, we didn’t know what was wrong and called 911. Turns out her blood sugar was too low. (And we had another episode like that early Tuesday morning.) As I mentioned, since then we (and I mean Kel, Jerry and Karen*) have to check her blood sugar at least every two hours. Depending on a schedule from the doctor and the blood sugar level, we give her one of two types of insulin or give her something to eat.
The caregivers (Mon-Sat, 10 - 4 p.m.) are NOT nurses. They are not allowed to give shots, so either Kel or Karen has to be home during the day. Kel has a couple of leads for a good job. Once she’s employed, that leaves Karen to handle the shots during working hours. Which means that Karen can’t leave the house for more than about an hour and a half at a time…
We can’t go out for dinner as a family (Kel, myself & the kids) without coordinating with Jerry and Karen (mostly for Haley’s cheerleading practices, tumbling, games, etc.). We can have Haley babysit Keira and Dyson, but not the old folks. Unfortunately, Kel’s brothers are not willing to help out with the shots and potty duty, so the four of us (Kel, Jerry, Karen & I) can’t go out together for dinner and drinks, with or without the kids. (Luckily Ian (Jerry & Karen’s 20-year-old son, who’s currently staying at Mike’s (Kel’s oldest brother) house in Daleville (nearby), and he’s been willing to take care of them, but he’s going back to college in January.)
We’ll have to make a decision soon - hire full-time nurses (instead of part-time caregivers) or put her in a nursing home.
Even though she can’t express herself very well, Nana seems to know that we can’t take care of her at home much longer. And she seems to accept this…
Kel has found a nice place associated with a Catholic church in Roanoke (her parents are Catholic) where they can share a small "apartment".
But Pop, as opposed to Nana, is going to be really pissed when we move him into a nursing home. He isn’t sufficiently aware of his shortcomings to understand the need.
Plus, he’s a bit paranoid - on a number of occasions, he’s told the caregiver that we are stealing his money or similar accusations.
While Nana has given up, and doesn’t even try to communicate, she seems more mentally cognizant than he is.
We can’t let him get his own pills out of the pill caddy any longer because he can’t keep track of which day/time it is.
He used to be able to put away the dishes after the dishwasher finished (although he couldn’t tell the difference between "clean" and "rinsed but not washed"). He can’t remember where to put stuff any more, so that’s out as well.
Pop doesn’t have good control over his, umm, bathroom functions, which leads to the caregivers and Jerry/Karen/Kel** having to clean up messes in his bathroom on a regular basis (sometimes more than once a day). That kind of thing is grinding them (Jerry/Karen/Kel) down.
I used to believe that he’d live to over one hundred. Now that doesn’t seem too likely…
It is hard to watch. I never knew him before his first stroke. Apparently he was a very different person (personality) before.
Sigh…
* Yes, I am a bad son-in-law. I’ll do the testing and shots if I’m the only one in the house, but that’s rare…
** Again, the bad son-in-law. I will NOT wipe Nana or clean up after Pop. Sorry. Just can’t do it. I had serious gag reflexes changing Keira and Dyson’s diapers, but I did do that because they were my own children. I just can’t handle strong odors… At least I do the cooking when I’m in town…
