Me Time!

[Estéema]

PIL are close to 80s. I’m planning modifications of slips & rearranging furniture coz I noticed particularly for FIL, his gait is less agile these couple of years. He’s often seen shuffling his feet rather than walking briskly or lifting feet in his steps. MIL says he’s always kicking sth in the house & this time round, he kicked the dining chair & fell.


I’m also trying to preempt future inciddbts (tho cannot be 100%) with soft paddings.

My elderly bro had Alzheimer & cant lift his feet. SIL had to support him & train his brain to lift his limbs. So a typical few minutes walk fr dining room to bedroom wld take more than 15 min as SIL patient repeat "lift your left legs" or "lift your right legs" to take his walk ard the house. Purpose is to reduce his muscle waste & keep his brain active.

I’ve been observing the family seems to hv some motor movement issues, as I see DH & BILs able to think well on the feet but motor movements seems delayed. I’d ask for sth fr them & they’d register as I noticed theyvresponding, but before they can pass item to me, I wld hv picked it up in my hands. Maybe I’m just a go-getter, impatient to get things done? Don’t know.

[ngl2010]

Esteema, we put slope between living room and kitchen after my MIL’s fall. However, my PIL dismantled it after 2 weeks. My MIL feels the slope is harder and more slippery for her to walk on. But they like the bars we installed at all kerbs in the house.


When MIL arrived at Alexandra Hospital, there was a nurse that told us to take photos of all rooms, floors and kerbs in the house. She then advised us on what we should install/modify to make it easier for MIL to move around in the house. I can’t remember the title of the nurse. She even gave us her handphone number so we can WhatsApp all photos to her. Other than the slope that my PIL don’t like, PIL finds other advices are very useful.

After your FIL’s discharge, do engage a physiotherapist that will come to your FIL’s home. I find that the visits are extremely beneficial because the physiotherapist can see the house and environment so she/he can teach your FIL on how to move around in the house and out of the house safely. We engaged a physiotherapist from SGH and she gave my MIL confidence to move around in the house, to get out of the house, to go to supermarket near her house and to get in and out of car. It really made a difference. Before those physiotherapist visits, MIL only dared to stay inside her room.

There were also doctor’s visits to home. If I remember correctly, my MIL was visited by a doctor from SGH twice. The doctor refilled her usual medications and checked her progress. The doctor came with a nurse. The nurse counted MIL’s medicine stock and calibrated her blood pressure machine. I found the doctor’s visits are useful too. Do pick-up a brochure from SGH on this service.

[Estéema]

Wow! Your dharingbis so impt for us to plan. Will certainly appreciate the home services fr docs, nurse & physio therapist coz it'll certainly need to build motivation & confidence. I noticed MIL is quite affected as this is first op FIL ever had. I'm hoping to keep her engaged so she don't go depressed. But if FIL can be seen more mobile at home when discharged, I'm sure it'll uplift her mood. Not easy hv to handle both. It's physical & emotional needs. Gotta watch closely


Thanks again, ngl2010 :thankyou:

:lovesite:

[ngl2010]

Esteema, you are welcome.


Another thing. Before MIL have confidence to get in and out of car, we called private ambulance each time she needs to see a specialist in SGH (the doctor that came to home is a GP. We still need to go to hospital to see other doctors). The ambulance picked her up at home and once we are done at SGH we called the ambulance again to pick us up at the clinic. Your FIL walked 1 day after his operation so it is unlikely he wants to use ambulance to go to SGH for his follow-ups. But in case he has difficulty in getting in and out of car, you can call private ambulance.

[MyPillow]

Estéema:

Wow! Your dharingbis so impt for us to plan. Will certainly appreciate the home services fr docs, nurse & physio therapist coz it'll certainly need to build motivation & confidence. I noticed MIL is quite affected as this is first op FIL ever had. I'm hoping to keep her engaged so she don't go depressed. But if FIL can be seen more mobile at home when discharged, I'm sure it'll uplift her mood. Not easy hv to handle both. It's physical & emotional needs. Gotta watch closely


Thanks again, ngl2010 :thankyou:

:lovesite:

Your in laws sound old , mayb it is time that the kids need to care the aged parents - stay together ?
My mum is not old , only 60s , no serious illness but she is staying with me so I can care for her very easily . She has a 5 rm flat but she likes to stay in my house

[Estéema]

We’ve been asking them for many years, but they prefer staying on their own. They’ve got one more BIL still residing with PIL. Will raise this issue again.

[janet88]

esteema,

I hope your FIL recovers well and comfortably in a step down hospital…that will give you and the family members peace of mind.

tomorrow is the last weekday before school starts on Monday.
just printed out the new timetable. it has been a fun filled holiday…back to school.

[Estéema]

My Pillow,


Was thinking thro why DH & I still feeling tired & jetlagged. Now thinking cld be also exhausation. Gotta take Melatonin tonite

[janet88]

Estéema:

My Pillow,


Was thinking thro why DH & I still feeling tired & jetlagged. Now thinking cld be also exhausation. Gotta take Melatonin tonite

now that your FIL's op is over, you and hubby can have a good night sleep.
take melatonin tonight and sweet dreams.

[Estéema]

janet88:

esteema,

I hope your FIL recovers well and comfortably in a step down hospital...that will give you and the family members peace of mind.

tomorrow is the last weekday before school starts on Monday.
just printed out the new timetable. it has been a fun filled holiday...back to school.

Ha, ha... you know my needs so well now. Both thinking abt melatonin in space of a minute fr our postings.

Tmr going to hospital again. Meeting SIL just got back fr Melbourne.

Sounds good for you, Janet, as you're settled into a new home. Happy for you too! Your kids shld be able to organize themselves better with newly arranged bookshelves too.

Hv to help my family adjust back to reality, or we're alr thrown/shock back to reality too quickly. :yikes: