The Beauty of All Things

It's true isn't it? There is no place like home. My grandmother was brought home yesterday by my sister and I. I got there at around 8.30am in the morning, read my book and talked to her 'til around lunch time. I fed her a bit of mashed potatoes and some Ensure, watched TV and then told her I'm going to pick up my sister to help take her home. Anyway, grandma's been very 'obedient' at the home. All she's been doing was lie in bed quietly, propped up when moved, lied down when placed... like a little rag doll. In her situation there, she was given some liquid medication to stimulate her appetite, but still, she ate very little. If she could finish a can of Ensure that day, we call it a good day. The home also provide sedative medication. I shudder to think...

My mum was reluctant to place her mother there, but her two sisters concurred that this is the best choice given the situation at hand. My mum and dad ending up spending about 6-7 hours each day visiting grandma. Mum told me that was even more work and stress for them. A couple of occasions when my mum was visiting, grandma was wheeled out in the main room with others, which was good, but they didn't put much clothing on her so that she ended up all clammy and cold. She just sits there whether passed out or awake. My mum said grandma was so cold her fingers were in different shades of purple. She could also be exaggerating a bit, too. My grandmother is tough but also shy, in a place where she knows no one, she wouldn't say a word. She also says very little to us these days. We put up a written sign next to her bed saying to please put extra clothing on her whenever she's up and on her wheelchair, but to no avail. One can see that she has so much to say from her eyes, and without her dentures, half-dazed, she only tries...

My mum decided to bring her mother home was right after her last visit. She got there one morning and the first thing that my grandma said to her was that she wanted to go home... My mother was crushed. Grandma was just out from taking a sponge bath. While she was checking the bedding, she noticed that somehow the undershirt that grandma was wearing got all damp?! I'm not sure if my mother asked the staff there what had happened or not. Mum was so hurt to see her mother like this. She called and told me everything while crying on the phone that evening.

UPDATE: Mum just called and she sounded different I told her. She's much happier now and the lady was hired and started today. A live-in caretaker who will be staying in my grandmother's room as well. My mum didn't do that before because of money issues but we've got that taken care of. She said the lady is watching TV with grandmother in the room right now. My brother went to visit with his kids and grandmother even wanted to sit out in the living room in her wheelchair. Mum said that grandmother didn't even recognize the kids at first until she saw my brother... Mum told me she sat out for about 10-15 minutes. It was a good day today. It's so nice to hear something is happy just from their voice, especially you're mother's. Again, I thank everyone's for your kind words and concern. There is no place like the comfort of one's home.