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MarieC
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Location: Ohio
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| Posted: March 30 2007 at 8:31pm | IP Logged
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I posted here about my mil who has been hospitalized.
Today we learned that she has improved enough to be released from the hospital  but she can't go home. She needs a lot of care, will still need IV antibiotics for a month, and has a drainage tube that needs to be monitored.
They are trying to get a bed in a privately run nursing home attached to the hospital she's been in. Being that close to the hospital eases my dh's mind (he's an RN and knows all the bad stuff that can happen  .)
(Thanks for putting up with this post....if you've made it this far!) Here's my question...
Is there anything you can think of that we could do to support my in-laws from 2,000+ miles away. There's a chance dh will go for a short visit but we really aren't able to do any of the hands on stuff (meals, visits, etc.). Any ideas?
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Marie
mom to 6
dds-98, 00, 02 and 09 & dss-03 and 06
Out in the Orchard
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 30 2007 at 9:06pm | IP Logged
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MarieC wrote:
| Is there anything you can think of that we could do to support my in-laws from 2,000+ miles away. There's a chance dh will go for a short visit but we really aren't able to do any of the hands on stuff (meals, visits, etc.). Any ideas? |
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A few things come to mind. When my grandmother had heart surgery she had to go to a facility for a while. Some of the things that comforted her:
Visual reminders, like bulletin boards with pictures of family, holycards, things that are important in her life. Notes and cards and pictures from the children and grandchildren kept her going.
I forget if you mentioned if she was Catholic. If so, I'd see if you could contact the local priest, so he could visit her and bring communion, or the Eucharistic Minister. Find out the ministries of the nursing home, and make sure she's on the Catholic list.
What is the saddest thing to me is seeing these sick or elderly people being confined to bed and all they do is watch TV, with limited channels, and it's just loud noise. It would be nice to give alternatives to her environment. Is there a DVD player or VCR she can use in the room? Send home movies, old movie classics, musicals...
Does she like music? Can you provide a cd player and some nice cds or an Ipod with a collection? Books on tape? If she's feeling chipper and more mentally alert, how about Sudoku, crosswords, handheld games like Yahtzee?
And make sure she has some nice, feminine things for her lounging and recovery--slippers, robe, pjs, nightgown. Get approval from the home what she can have to have access to her IVs, and then pamper her. And some little toiletries (like scented hand lotion, breath mints or somethign for quick breath freshener, hand wipes, face wipes for example) that can be kept nearby on her little table that she can "freshen up" and feel pretty even when she can't bathe or doll herself up like usual. My grandmother had to have her lipstick.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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lilac hill
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| Posted: March 31 2007 at 5:46am | IP Logged
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Jenn has great ideas.
Having regular mail will give her something to talk and think about.
Maybe an interactive project with your children?
Maybe it is time to get some of you mother's stories on tape, you kids could print and illustrate, mail it back for her "editor's approval?"
Maybe a book on tape of your read aloud or one of the children's books that can be discussed or written or drawn about to share.
Best wishes.
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Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Nursing Home Advice
