Posted on 11/19/2012 6:06:55 PM PST by Timber Rattler
In May 1964, Nels and Irene Highberg bought their first and only home. It was a modest, brick rancher -- no garage -- on a pleasant cul-de-sac on the edge of East Petersburg.
The Highbergs raised two sons there. They entertained neighbors there. They grew old there. After 48 years at 6312 Miriam Circle, the Highbergs -- Nels is 92, Irene is 89 -- figured they could manage a while longer. Family and friends agreed.
But the county Office of Aging stepped in last summer, saying for safety reasons the Highbergs must move to a nursing home.
"I ain't going to go," Highberg said, according to Erick Highberg, the couple's 54-year-old son.
When a van arrived Aug. 2 to take the couple to Oak Leaf Manor in Millersville, Highberg sat in a chair in the driveway for many long minutes. He got in the van only after a police officer showed up.
(snip)
Now that the Highbergs are at Oak Leaf Manor, a new worry for the Highberg family is the possibility of another move to a less expensive, state-subsidized facility because their money is running out.
One of them may be the one who insisted that the parents move to a nursing home.
It is common to see siblings disagree about how their parents should be treated.
Parents often placate the shrillest voice "to keep peace in the family".
Nope....read the article.
I’m suspicious that bertie’s friend is heart broken by his contacts. It sounds like he has some unresolved emotional problems that are being related to the people he works with. A healthy man does his job and knows what needs to be done. The heart breaking part needs to be saved for his own family. Something is wrong there.
I’m suspicious that bertie’s friend is heart broken by his contacts. It sounds like he has some unresolved emotional problems that are being related to the people he works with. A healthy man does his job and knows what needs to be done. The heart breaking part needs to be saved for his own family. Something is wrong there.
“Government is the only thing we all belong to.”
Exactly. My wife just turned 30. Shes starting to have real issues with her type 1, neroapothy, fribro and a few other things.
Some days it’s all she can to do run the TV remote. Others, you’d never know there was a thing wrong with her.
Sadly, the days of not being able to run the remote are happening more often. It’s hard to watch a loved one (or anyone) go though that.
We where just talking about having to get her some one to help during the day. Her grand mother is sharp as a tack and strong as an ox. Her house however (a late 60’s mobile home) is not. We are going to see if we can get her to move in. It’s two fold really. She can help my wife. And then, when it’s grandma’s turn. Me and the kids can take care of both of them. If god times it right for us our oldest will be in her late teens.
I got an email from one of my Sisters just a couple of days ago. She said she thinks of Mother every day. I do too. I have also noticed that my dreams often have Mother and Daddy in them.
They were married just under 70 years and were never separated except when Daddy was in WWII.
bad promise...Never make a promise that says never....you have no idea of whet the next ten years or so may entail...do you want to be with her 24/7/365..do you want to change her diapers and feed her every meal , nursing homes can be wonderful places, I visit them often and MOST are more that O.K....please don't condemn them out of hand, your mom may NEED one sooner than you think.
In my town city inspectors condemn homes, inform their business friends, who purchase the homes, and remodel them to code and sell them for a fat profit.
oh please...absolute NONSENSE
One hundred percent agreement. My mother-in-law, 84, was in the hospital last week for GI bleeding. One of us kept an eye on her at all times for a few days, although we weren't allowed to stay overnight. After the bleeding cleared up they wanted to keep her for "a few more days" for a urinary tract infection (probably from catheterization). Then a social worker showed up claiming she had dementia and needed to be moved into an assisted living home. She wasn't speaking clearly because she hadn't had any liquid to drink for 12 hours. We checked her out against the Doctors advice and she is doing fine. (BTW, if they ever tell you that if you check out against a Doctors advice that your insurance won't pay, it is not true.) I'm grateful to the ER Docs and Nurses who gave her a transfusion and saved her life, but get them out of the hospital as fast as you can.
That seems to have happened to half of the country on November 6th. I suspect the Highbergs have more common sense than many voters, and could have continued to live at home with some additional assistance.
Removing people from their homes is not something the government should be doing.
Very sad. Our sincere prayers and best wishes. My wife has a couple of friends with severe Type 1 also.
I am just listening to my wife talking to her daughter on the phone with a very complicated and difficult pregnancy (and heart disability), but at this point it appears both parties might make it through.
Prayers needed all around...
I have been with her 24/7/365 for the last five years for all practical purposes. I fix a lot of our meals now. I don't plan to stop eating. Do I want to change her diapers? Of course not. I doubt she wanted to change mine but she did. I would be here for her without making the promise. She asked for the promise so I gave it to her.
Put your reading glasses on. I made no remark condemning nursing homes. None.
My dear Grandmother, at age 97, disappeared from her apartment in a elderly housing project. Nobody had a clue where she was, and the police put out an APB on her. They thought the worst had happened to her. Two weeks after her disappearance, we all received post cards from Grandma, in Frankfurt, Germany, her childhood home. She wanted to visit with family still living in Germany, and decided what the hell, you only live once, and off she went. My grandmother lived to be 103 and took care of herself for many, many years until her death. Her philosophy was simple, you’re only as old as you feel and you owe nothing to noone. Enjoy your life as it’s the only one you’ll have. Love you Grandma!!
Golly, thanks for your story...it’s very much like ours with my mother....
The hardest was no food and water...she couldn’t swallow but it was just so hard...bless you ....
Exactly right...ole Barry and gang go after the weakest among us, the elderly and the unborn....
And they accuse conservatives of being unfeeling...POS.
Where the UK goes soon the US follows.
Well I must say you have some very interesting views on compassion. I certainly hope you don’t do any kind of public service or work that involves caretaking. :)
In Texas, unless a person can be certified as mentally incompetent they cannot be removed from their home. It is very difficult to prove incompetency. So my friend is doing what needs to be done by helping them stay as safe as possible under the circumstances.
I must surmise by your comment “a healthy man knows his job and knows what needs to be done” you agree that the people in the original story needed to be removed from their homes by a government agency?
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