Having spent the weekend visiting my mother, seeing her work very hard on her occupational therapy, and hearing her tell me (although I doubted this) that she expected to be driving again and would be able to take care of herself as soon as the hip healed -- I got a call from her this afternoon telling me that the doctor is sending her home on Thursday (that's less than three days -- yikes!), that he has told her she will no longer be able to live alone (the case manager had also told me that) and that she is now ready to move into assisted living or a board and care home. It was a stressful afternoon.
I will fly to San Diego Wednesday evening, Pam will meet me there. Care for the first few days is arranged. We will have a couple of 4 hour shifts to help with the stuff we really cannot do for her, and I will be staying for about 10 days. by that time we should have found an appropriate home/facility for her or have round-the-clock care in place for a few more weeks. The condo will have to be sold, and she is aware of that.
It is a hard thing when this stubborn, intelligent, very independent woman suddenly has to be dependent on other people to care for her, even help her dress and take care of basic everyday tasks. Her life suddenly changed. One fall is all it took. No warning. Just crash and you now have a different life.
We don't know what next month or next year will bring for her. She will accept and adjust to whatever life sends her way. She is a tough lady even among a bunch of old women who know quite well that the golden years aren't for sissies.
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