First of all, I just need to say that this site is really confusing and I wish it would be redesigned to make it more user-friendly. For example, I am not really "asking a question" now, just sharing an observation, but I can't easily find another way to post unless I "ask a question." I can't figure out how to respond to people's private messages/hugs/etc. It's very hard to navigate - and I work for a digital company.
Having said that, I am glad that I've been able to be absent for a while, as no acute crises or infections have taken place in the past 8 weeks (fingers crossed I am not jinxing that now!)
I must share a quote from my mother yesterday. I was visiting and her aide was talking to me about ordering incontinence supplies in front of my mother. All of these health care people - doctors, nurses, aides - think nothing of talking about her in the 3rd person while she's right there. ARGH. Pisses me off so much. My mom is not completely out of it by any stretch and she hates it too.
So my mother said, "I am incontinent by choice!"
Funny and sad. Mostly sad - the trying to save face and pretend she has some control over something.
Otherwise, I just adore this aide. She goes above and beyond - always cheerful and engaged with my mom, ready to do anything for her at the drop of a hat (such as rush to the store to get my mom more potato chips, as she can't seem to get enough of them lately). A true gem. I was hoping she'd be there on Thanksgiving so we could include her in our pathetic, so-called plans, but, alas, she will be spending it with her own family. So we'll have a sub - ugh. Oh well, it's only one day and my mom won't care much one way or the other. Still, it's hard.
I agree, I have posted some funny/positive things on here too, and there is no "question" being asked, just a comment or humorous moment.
Why on earth do some healthcare professionals talk about patients in their presence, as if they weren't even in the room? My aunt was not hard of hearing and she did not have dementia.
A few years ago my somewhat whacky sister announced to the whole family, “Well it’s official. My doctor says I’m bipolar”. After a moment of silence my mom says, “Well who isn’t!”
I just left my folks after a visit of a few days. Their old tv had died so I got a new one and managed to get through the confusing digital set up and get it working.
The new remote is practically a carbon copy of the old one but they had the damnedest time mastering it. It was like we were programming a neuton bomb.
Called mom from my motel on the way home and asked how they were enjoying the new tv. She said it had gotten much better since all the words now show up at the bottom. They’ve somehow activated the closed caption feature. I didn’t say a word. Will Leave well enough alone.
To respond to people's private messages - just tap on your avatar photo on the top right. Tap on their names, and it will open to their private message board.
As for my Mom's doctor, he was very protective of her. When I started having to escort her to her appt's he would always completely ignore me and talk to my Mom. While I didn't appreciate that he couldn't see that I was just being supportive by being there I was secretly glad that he respected my Mom that way.
I do appreciate the funny quotes. Goodness, knows we need to keep our humor.
I've also noticed that people look at my mother in her wheelchair as if she's a baby in a stroller sometimes, giving me that "awww" look. But I know they mean well and I always appreciate how people are so helpful in opening doors and letting us get through. It's just interesting to see how perceptions and behaviors change when someone is disabled - for better and for worse.
And while I'm griping, here's one more: it bugs me when health care providers refer to my mother as "Mom" instead of "your mom" or "your mother." I know that's petty of me, but it's kind of condescending when a professional person uses "mom," somehow.
GardenArtist, does your Dad have a first name that was common back 90 some years ago which today is used mainly by women? Is that the confusion? While swinging around my family tree, I came across a name of Lauren Ashley _____. I thought the name belonged to a woman so I was digging around trying to find her husband's name, but kept coming up with a wife's name. Sure enough, Lauren was a man, always had been. Also came across Lavern and Vivian as male names from the 1800's and early 1900's.