Replies

Sorry I am coming in late to this discussion. I am a physical therapist here in Tampa. I perform Home based PT. Often the homes I visit to see my patients are Assisted Living Facilities. About 30% of my patients are psychiatric ally disabled. Perhaps an ALF would be a good option.

It is well understood that caring for a sick family member is the most stressful job we will ever have. I have a good understanding of the dynamics. Feel free to email.

Sorry I am coming in late to this discussion. I am a physical therapist here in Tampa. I perform Home based PT. Often the homes I visit to see my patients are Assisted Living Facilities. About 30% of my patients are psychiatric ally disabled. Perhaps an ALF would be a good option.

Let me second this. Due to the cost of hospitalization many areas (mine included) now have facilities that are much more like a home than a hospital. This is often helpful during a crisis period as you seem to be in now. My wife has stayed in a few of these places and they are far less stressful than a hospital and it will take so much of the strain off you.

My mother passed away earlier this month. For the last few years until she died, she had been in an assisted living facility, initially in a locked down memory care unit.

My sisters and I rotated being there so Mom was never without family close by and never spent an evening without one of us there with her.

The facilities are in a retirement community and the other patients in the memory care facility were late middle-aged to elderly with a range of mobility.

At first, I had to get over my own feelings about leaving my mom there and about others doing that to their loved ones, too, like we were failing to live up to what we were supposed to do for a loved one.

But, being there every night also came with all the reminders about how "impossible" that care had become.

I eventually got over my guilt and my harsh feelings toward my self and others and instead became very grateful and forgiving, as well as appreciative for God's gift of good health as we age.

I am grateful my mom and everyone else there were in a safe place where they were under constant supervision and care by people who generally acted with compassion and patience for those they cared for.

And, because of my time with those patients and being there for my mom's last years, for the first time in my life I am afraid of going though something like that myself or the last half of my life alone. Unexpected gifts for one who is adept at letting life slip by.