Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The soothing music seemed to work last night. We shall see about tonight. I am so tired tonight. A comes next week, I hope I can get a break. I have been caregiving nonstop for 2 years now and it's exhausting. Today I checked out a website called www.aplaceformom.com. They help find housing for seniors including ones with dementia. I'm trying to plan ahead for the inevitable. I'm also looking into something called Lifeline which the neuro recommended. Mom would wear a bracelet with a button that she would push if she needed help, for example, getting up from a fall. But I wonder, how does someone with dementia know to push the button if they need help? The other thing that I am on a quest for is a good disposable undergarment that does not leak and is good for bowel incontinence. Isn't my life exciting? Oops, Mom is crying. Guess I better go find out what is up.

She was lonely as usual. Poor Mom. I think she's finally settled down or maybe the Seroquel has kicked in. I'm trying to load Mom's iPod with songs from her lifetime. I bought a Perry Como album and some Judy Garland songs. I loaded Mom's Rosemary Clooney, Barry Manilow and ABBA CDs along with Barbra Streisand's CD onto the iPod that sits in the sound dock. She listened to music all day while I was at work. There is an eclectic mix, including Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and lot's of classical music. That's one thing my parents both loved; music. I remember the house was always filled with music when I was growing up. Music seems to calm Mom down.

4 comments:

~Betsy said...

I remember the old music, too. Perry Como was one of my mom's favorites along with Bobby Vinton. I found that The Lawrence Welk Show reruns are on public television on Saturday evenings. Now if I could only remember to turn the TV station so Mom can watch. This is an exhausting job, isn't it?

I remember reading on the board that so many members prefer the Wal-Mart brand of adult diapers. Maybe they would work for you, too.

rilera said...

Thanks for the suggestion to try Wal-Mart. This IS an exhausting job.

nancy said...

hang in there. hopefully tomorrow will be better. glad to hear that the music is helping. funny thing about lawrence welk is that i don't ever remember my parents watching it growing up but my dad seems to enjoy it now. i have taped a few episodes so i can turn them on as needed.

rilera said...

The one time I turned on Lawrence Welk for Mom, she said "That show is for old people". I laughed. I think I remember her watching it when I was young.

Nine Years and Counting

Mom has been gone for a little over nine years. This blog was a huge mechanism for helping me cope with her illness and daily downfall. I...