Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A Diagnosis...Sort of....

It was not a stroke. The doctor said Dad had a sudden worsening of his dementia. We're in for a downhill slide from here.

The good news is that he was corporative during the rest of his hospital stay. The bad news is that the hospital discharged him last night before we had time to make nursing home arrangements. So we brought him home in an ambulance and have round the clock sitters helping out.

My mother and I spent this morning checking out nursing homes and decided on one. Then we spent the afternoon running to the doctor's office and back to the hospital arranging for medical records to be faxed to the nursing home. It poured down rain all day, but I think (HOPE!) we have everything in order.

If the nursing home gets everything they need from all the different sources, we can move him there tomorrow. I know I'm exhausted, so at 81 years old, I don't even know how my mother is still functioning. But she's hanging in there.

The hardest part of all this was having to tell my dad yesterday that he must go to a nursing facility (for the second time this year). He was sad and mad and disappointed. I would be, too. But there is not another option. Hopefully we will all adjust quickly.

3 comments:

West Michigan Quilter said...

I'm so sorry and can relate to what you are going through. The most difficult time in my life was having to put my mother in a nursing home because of her dementia. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Susan said...

My heart breaks for your dad, mom, you and the rest of the family! We have been down the same road and I know how difficult it is. Keeping you all in my prayers!

Zanymouse said...

I'm so sorry, Julia. This is indeed a very difficult time for your family. It's so hard to watch someone you love disintigrate into a person you don't even recognize, but try to keep the happy and healthy memories of your father at the front of your brain to warm your heart. Sending thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

Zina