Hospice makes a lot of things easier from getting equipment, to paying for supplies, to preparing you for what to expect, but they don't come with a crystal ball, and they certainly do not come with complete solutions.
The Shocking Costs of Death
Tag: Mental Health; Schizophrenia; bi-polar; bipolar; clinical mental illness; aging parent
What Schizophrenia looks like at age 72
By the end of August Mom was descending into manic behavior, roaming the halls of the facility at all hours of the night. Increasingly unsteady on her feet, Mom took a tumble and broke her good arm.
Navigating the imperfect systems of elder care with a parent suffering from alcoholism
For an elderly person with addiction, things are completely different.
Working with Siblings
My sisters and I have undertaken the cleanup of my mom's house. Increasingly, it is clear that it is not a good environment for her. Regardless of if Mom stays in a facility with a nursing staff or we move Mom into a condominium or an apartment, keeping her in a three bedroom, two and … Continue reading Working with Siblings
Educational Resources – Mental Health
There is a lot of information out there on mental health, but so little of it seems to be talking to the person who is living the experience as the caregiver. I want to learn from someone who has situational empathy for what I'm experiencing, not a list of symptoms, but someone who knows what … Continue reading Educational Resources – Mental Health
If I Could Talk to Me, 15 years ago… Lessons Learned From Caring for a Mom with Bi-Polar Disorder
My sisters have been in town helping me clean-out my mom's house. She never threw anything away, so she has three houses worth of stuff under her roof. It is ridiculous. During our time together, my sisters and I were kind of reminiscing over the journey with mom, childhood, and how we got to where … Continue reading If I Could Talk to Me, 15 years ago… Lessons Learned From Caring for a Mom with Bi-Polar Disorder
Three Month Update – Caregiver
I moved mom into an elderly retirement community with nursing care about three months ago. It was the best decision I have ever made for myself, and for her. She was probably calling me 30-40 times per week, now she is averaging 2-3. She has gone from being clinical for three months, to now stay … Continue reading Three Month Update – Caregiver
The Gap After Clinical Care
The 1950's and 1960's saw the de-institutionalization of patients suffering from mental illness. Why is that? Well two things: 1) Due to the lack of institutional oversight, the institutions themselves were wrought with problems and cases of patients being abused; and 2) the Civil Rights Movement. A person diagnosed with a mental illness hasn't committed … Continue reading The Gap After Clinical Care
You Ain’t Atlas – Caregiver
Being a Caregiver to a Family Member with Clinical Mental Illness I don't know if it was because it was my mom, or if it was my Super Man complex (not actually a thing) coming into play, but when I got the call mom was in the Emergency Department, I immediately went into fix-it mode. … Continue reading You Ain’t Atlas – Caregiver