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By Bill October 6th, 2011
The Meeting
For most of human history, caregiving of elders took place within the extended family. With migration to cities, elders sometimes had no family to care for them as they aged. The burden often shifted to the state. Poorhouses, old folk’s homes, veteran’s homes, and other institutions were established. Religious organizations also provided care for seniors.
For example, in the late nineteenth century Denver became a center for consumptive relief. Tuberculosis was a major killer and many consumptives came west for the dry air and abundant sunshine. National Jewish Hospital in east Denver was a non-kosher resource for consumptive Jews. Orthodox Jews went to the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society (JCRS) in west Denver. Many church and fraternal organization-related hospitals and nursing homes were also established during this period. A significant charity-based infrastructure …
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By Carol October 4th, 2011
I am excited to realize that we have been publishing Inside Aging Parent Care for a year and a half now. In celebration of this most recent anniversary, here is our very first post:
For many of us, it begins with a phone call. In our case, the call came from my 89 year old father late in the spring of 2008. He had been released from Waterman Hospital after his third bout with pneumonia a few weeks earlier. “I’ve been thinking,” he said, “why am I here when you are there?”
We had often encouraged Dad to consider moving from his home at an assisted living facility in Central Florida to join us in Denver where Bill and I have lived for the past twenty years. Up until now he had always resisted …
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By Bill August 25th, 2011
Electrocardiogram
Today was to be surgery day for Steve, Carol’s son and my stepson. No food since Midnight for surgery scheduled for 3:30 pm. He gets to Pre-OP with his father (Carol and I are still working on the recovery from her surgery). The medicos do their checks, and Steve is having some atrial fibrillation. So, move from Pre-Op to the ER. No surgery today. It looks at this point that the fibrillation is probably stress-related, but no one is saying for sure. More doctors, more tests, and maybe surgery Monday.
The first time Steve went in for surgery it was cancelled because his blood pressure was too high. Months ensued before he could have the surgery. Overall however, he’s doing great and we hope this is just another bump in what is turning …
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By Bill August 17th, 2011
Boring
As I wrote last week, I am doing a stint as caregiver. Carol had surgery. She is doing fine, some pain, tired a lot, can’t do much lifting. I do the work and keep an eye on her. I cook, clean, wash dishes (the dishwasher is in the chair), get the icepacks, bring water, fill water bottles, go to the pharmacy, the library, talk to doctors, nurses, insurance people, hospital people, the usual drill. There are periods of activity, and significant periods of monitoring or just being available.
I love Carol desperately but caring for her when she is laid up is: Boring. Routine. Same thing over and over. Repetitive. Menial. Did I say boring? Strangely, I don’t think we have discussed this before. I guess we were too bored. Late next …
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By Bill July 28th, 2011
Confused
Today I visited my friend who just had a knee replacement. As we were leaving for the bookstore and coffee shop, we almost collided with a car driven by an elderly man who was turning the corner and headed right for us. I stopped and he moved back into the proper lane for turning. I made a remark, and my friend indicated that the couple are over 90 and slipping a bit, her more than he.
Here is a man who, judging by his driving, needs a caregiver. Instead, he is caregiver for a woman who requires a lot of care. As a result he is still driving and taking her with him when he runs errands. My friend says there are several older couples in his little neighborhood. By older, he means older …
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