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Sending Momma for an Alzheimer’s Assessment
I have two friends, Myrtis and Della, who are weekend caregivers for their aging mothers. They live in the greater Atlanta area and both of their mothers live in Alabama. One or two weekends a month, both of them spend a few days in Alabama taking care of their mothers.
A Difficult Decision
Last week, Myrtis and her seven siblings had a meeting and decided to send their mother to a local facility for an Alzheimer’s assessment. They already knew that their mother had some form of dementia, but they did not know the degree of her condition. In the program they chose, their mother has to stay at the facility for a two week observation period. At the end of the two weeks, the family will be given advice on the best treatment and course of action to follow.
It was very difficult for Myrtis and her siblings to leave their mother at the center because their mother was usually with one of her children; and of course, she did not understand why the children left her with strangers. Even with the dementia, she knew something was wrong.
For the first few days of their mother’s stay, Myrtis did not sleep well because she was concerned about how her mother was adjusting at the facility. None of the sisters visited the first week because they didn’t want their mother to try to leave. However they did visit at the end of the first week and, as they suspected, their mother asked “Why are you leaving me here?” When they visited the next day, Mom was fine. She even walked them to the door. She has a few more days before the final tests and assessments, then Mom can go home and the sisters will have a better plan of action for dealing with her Alzheimer’s.
Is Your Family Prepared?
How soon will your family need to prepare for an aging family member? If you are not there yet, do you have a plan for the future? Who will they live with? Who will be their primary caregiver? How much cost is associated with caregiving? What kind changes will need to be made to your home? These are just a few things to think about when planning for your aging family members.
Related Reading:
Coping With Alzheimer’s Disease
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