Hi all, just really want to share my thoughts on nightcare for the elderly with regards to living with the family. There has been a few posts past and present about elderly parents coming to live with us, I say us as I've been looking after my 92 yr old mother for just over two years and my step father up to a year ago. Without going on too much what I found very stressful was night toileting.
Without going into too much detail I used to lie awake listening to every creak in the house etc making sure my stepfather was OK getting to and fro to the bathroom. Then one night my fears came true, he had a severe fall, and after breaking his hip had to go into a care home as he could no longer walk, he was OK with this. My mother has a commode which she uses as she can't walk very well at night.
But the reason I'm writing this is, after you've had a day of caring you can't quite switch off although you think you do as the slightest noise and your awake.
This is just for anyone who is thinking of looking after a relative in their own home, unless you have a night shift.
Sorry about waffling on, I hope this makes a bit of sense.
Without going into too much detail I used to lie awake listening to every creak in the house etc making sure my stepfather was OK getting to and fro to the bathroom. Then one night my fears came true, he had a severe fall, and after breaking his hip had to go into a care home as he could no longer walk, he was OK with this. My mother has a commode which she uses as she can't walk very well at night.
But the reason I'm writing this is, after you've had a day of caring you can't quite switch off although you think you do as the slightest noise and your awake.
This is just for anyone who is thinking of looking after a relative in their own home, unless you have a night shift.
Sorry about waffling on, I hope this makes a bit of sense.