My mother's in rehab for physical therapy and not happy. She's mad and not cooperating. She tell me I'm not going to take her home, she's asked me if I'm trying to kill her and several other mean and hurtful things. The staff tells me this is normal and not to worry but it hard. She's has a urinary tract infection from the hospital which they are treating with antibiotics which is messing with her mind. I'm new to this and it hurts to see her in this condition. How can I get her to calm down and trust that i will take her home one day and to take the time to get better?
Normally, I'm all for visiting often and doing lots of reassuring and hand holding (literally and figuratively). But there are times, and this seems like one of them, where we have to step back and let the professionals handle the situation. Once she calms down and does what she can, then you can re-enter. keep in touch with the staff and try not to feel guilty. You are trying to do what is right and that isn't always clear-cut.
Take care of yourself. This is a long road.
Carol
We were lucky that mum initially wanted to come home, so I'd tell her she could not come home til she could walk on her own etc.
(But she ended up loving that rehab home, think she wished she could stay there, they were wonderful and she had all her 'girls' to chat to)
Let the physios so there thing, steer a little clear til she's off the ABs.
Has she ever seen a geriatric psychiatrist?
I know when my Mom was having issues with neck pain, her physical therapist was a very nice looking young man.... she was very cooperative and still talks about him a decade later, and she is still doing the exercises he requested she do that home :)