Part two, rehab center.

I didn’t know about these mishaps when speaking to social worker or I would have told her. When I saw mom later she mentioned that the meds weren’t given as prescribed.

The rehab has recommended home health care at home when she is released. Mom is concerned, as am I how she will do at home. Insurance only pays for a limited amount of rehab.

I am considering palliative care if that is applicable for her. I’m still have questions about what palliative care consists of. Possibly hospice.

Also thinking about long term facility care. I really need to discuss it further with her doctors, primary care and neurologist. It’s a lot to deal with.

She has only mentioned once that she wants to be home. I think for the most part she feels looked after.

She doesn’t socialize much with other residents and I had hoped she would join in on conversations. Some residents are so sweet and laugh and tell wonderful stories about their lives.

Of course, others are in horrible shape. I guess dementia or something. So sad, one woman told me she didn’t know how she got there, said she was only 32 years old! That she needed to get back home. Broke my heart.

Mom mostly watches television in her room. Yesterday I wheeled her out to the tv watching room for a change of pace. They have her in a wheelchair when not in therapy or bed.

She is being so cooperative and pleasant. Everyone has complemented her attitude. I have enjoyed the break but I miss her too. I love her and I know without a doubt she loves me. She tells all of the staff I am a wonderful daughter.

They always tell me how sweet she is, how pretty she is. I swear she is 93 with no wrinkles!

She is eating well but says they give her too much food. That’s normal for her because she is small and doesn’t overeat.

She does like a cup of ice cream once in awhile so I brought the little cups and placed in freezer for her to have as a treat. Oh my gosh, some of the other residents wanted some so I gave them some too after I checked if they could have it.

This is breaking my heart. She has truly impressed me and the staff at the rehab facility with her hard work in therapy.

She has had a wonderful attitude and I have been told numerous times how willingly she is doing her exercises, which is a blessing because I have friends whose parents have not cooperated at all while in skilled nursing and refused to do the exercises. Very sad because they go down hill quickly.

Rehab works them hard! Six days a week, right after breakfast until the afternoon. Just a short break for lunch.

Well, I am trying to prepare myself because the social worker at the rehab says the worst is yet to come concerning the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

My older brother has really stepped up and visiting mom regularly as well. My younger brother goes too but not as often. He can’t handle it. He couldn’t visit my oldest brother in hospice very often before he died. Everyone is different around the sick and dying and I am learning to accept that.

This is hard and there are conflicting emotions. We all have different life experiences and need to respect each other’s feelings. No two people are alike.

An employee at the assisted living facility that I looked into awhile back called me recently and told me she was thinking about me and wanted me to meet her personal friend who is a great social worker. I’m amazed at the kindness of others at times.

She also leads a wonderful caregiver group in my area in the evenings that I can attend when my husband gets home.

My husband travels with work so I won’t be able to make every meeting but that’s okay. I’m looking forward to having face to face human interaction with other caregivers in my area.

This social worker arranged to meet me while mom was in the hospital in the cafeteria for coffee. We had a great conversation. She told me to keep her posted so I plan on calling her soon. She is very helpful.