Yeah, I'm sure that's part of it. But transportation is an issue. You'd think that her other in-town daughter would consider visiting, calling, bringing her over to the house to spend the day with the grandkids, but it never happens if we don't ask. And not always then.
We try to get her out to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, but sometimes she just won't go. We keep telling her that, as long as her hands are going to hurt, they might as well hurt at church. Doesn't always work.
Before this "spell" wife had pulled out some jigsaw puzzles. That seemed to get her interest. We've run through the ones we have tho. Need to get some more.
We were ~cruel~ at dinner. She hasn't been eating much since she took all the pain meds. We've told her she'd not stop feeling weak until she ate. Last night I grilled chicken and roasted vegetables. She had some chicken soup.
Tonight we added pasta to the chicken and vegetables. She said "I'll have this corn muffin and milk."
Wife said "not until you start with this."
It's a shame to have to treat a 76-year-old woman like that, but she's not going to gain any strength on milk and cornbread.
Is there a Dial-A-Ride program there? And would she be able to use it with her mobility problems?
Might be a way for her to get out of the house some of the time, without having to feel like she was being a burden.
Chicken soup, corn muffins, and milk sounds like a bland diet, Southern style.
Did she eat with good appetite, or just pick at the food? Do any of her current meds cause indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, sour stomach, gas, or bowel trouble?
She's not interested in online life at all, is she? Seems like there could be some internet group out there that she would get along with and give her companionship at home.
It's hard for me to imagine your position since my family have never had to care for an aging relative. Seems doubly hard for you since you've still got boys you're raising.