Well, as a lot of you guys are a bit older, and have gone through this with your parent/s, I wanted to pick your brains.
Mother is 450 miles away. Still lives at home by herself. She's 92. Good mind, body is slowly failing. Still somewhat ambulatory, bad hip and a bad hand, arthritis in most joints pretty badly. But on walker and can creep around the house. House is early '50s model, not laid out the best with narrow doors and too much accumulated stuff. So if she gets into wheelchair, it is going to be difficult moving about.
My younger brother sees after her pretty well. Groceries weekly, visits once or twice a week, and we have two sitters who have been coming for 3-5 hours most days.
Third fall in less than 3 months. First was a bruised hip. Second she bounced between bed and dresser, dinging head, arm and side pretty well. Still showing bruising after 6 weeks.
Third last night, got up in middle of night to go to bathroom, slipped and wedged herself between bed and walker. couldn't move until help arrived in form of sitter this morning at 10 or so. 6-7 hours on floor. Not good, but she didn't break anything nor bruise up this time.
Working to get sitters around the clock, but I don't think this is good solution long term. Maybe for a few weeks or a month at most.
Been trying to get her to go into retirement home for past year. Has long term care insurance that will cover 100% of the cost where she's at. And if there is some extra, her SS will cover rest.
But, and it's the big But. She has NEVER wanted to leave house. Got the insurance policy strictly to insure she could cover cost of IN home care.
So, do I continue to push this move? or just lay off and let her decide once she breaks something. I don't fully trust the sitters. But nursing home might not be any better.
Comments? Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, she's made peace with herself, and has outlived her two husbands and three siblings. Health is not poor enough to think she won't make it another 4 or 5 years or longer if she can remain unbroken by falls.