What a horrible week. Dad fell down the stairs on Monday. They live on the 3rd floor. He was trying to help and get the mail. Luckily the landlord was there to help Mom call 911.

He looked so awful in ER, wide eyed and scared - 2 lacerations, bloody, horrible brusing, cheek fracture - but no broken bones thankfully!

1 kind ER doc and nurse, the rest - ignornat lazy bums. Don't even want to go into it.

Emotional roller coaster. I'm so tired. Slept over there all week. I don't know how Mom does it 24/7.

Will he have to be placed? Will Mom decide?
I don;t know. I don't know.

Came home to get clean clothes today. Called at noon - Mom can't talk.

Oh God, what has happened now??

Thanks for listening.
Eileen

Oh, no! I'm so sorry. I'm glad there are no major broken bones, though a cheekbone fracture doesn't sound good to me. Any change in routine, like a hospital visit/stay, can really do a number on the AD patient, apart from the injury or illness that brought them there. I hope when you check back with your mom that things are better--keep us posted. Sending gentle hugs to all three of you.

So sorry about the situation with your Dad, Eileen.
I send my (*(*hugs and prayers)*)* to all concerned.
Carol

Dear Eileen,

I'm so sorry to hear that your Dad fell. Yes, thanks be to God, the landlord was there to help your Mom, she must have been beside herself.
I just said a little prayer for all of you. I hope that Dad will heal quickly and prayed for strength for your Mom in the days to come. Isn't it surreal that when our parents decline and struggle---- the ache in our hearts go from being a child like worry--- to parental concern? I never thought I would be like a parent to my own mother. Even after the past few years of living through this, I still have moments when I think I'm in the "Twighlight Zone". Hang in there, Eileen!

May God bless you all and keep you in His care.

Peace and grace be with you.
Love,
marcie

Oh Eileen, I am so sorry to hear this. You and your mom must be a wreck. Please keep us informed as to how dad is doing. Holding you close to my heart.

Eileen,

I'm so sorry about your dad, I just cannot imagine the emotions you must be experiencing right now. So sorry all the hospital staff was not wonderful for you all, that just adds to the difficulty, doesn't it? Hope the healing continues and things get back to a sortof normal state.

Take care,

~Kelly~

Oh, goodness, Eileen! It is never a quiet ride on this journey for either the parents, the spouses or the children.

You and your parents are in my prayers. Keep us posted on how things are going with Dad.

Oh Eileen, how horrible. Thank God for no broken bones. I know what your going through with ER staff, but please, stay firm with any staff and get things done your way. Be as outspoken as you can, and get a supervisor if you can. You'd be surprised how things will change then. It is your father, his health care, and no one should be giving you any problems especially where an AD patient is concerned. It seems they think they can take advantage of a person with AD cause they can't speak for themselves.

Check your PM Eileen. You and I live pretty close to one another, and I don't know why we haven't got together,but I think we should start. I'm going to PM you my phone number if you need to talk or need a friend. Please take advantage of it. We're all here for you.

Keep us updated on your Mom and Dad. And from experience, don't wear yourself out being at the hospital night and day. Ask the hospital if they have a sitting service for overnight. Believe me, if your rested, things go smoother.

talk soon,
Jackie

I'm sorry, I hope your dad heals up.

Kat

Eileen,

How's everything going with your dad?? How are you? Update when you can.

Thinking of you,
Jackie

Dear Jackie, Kat, MundeeB, KellyL, Lori, Marcie, Carol and Grits,
Thanks so much for your kind words of support. I really needed to hear it from those who understand.
It's been so hard to get the energy up to write.

Dad's home, healing rather quickly, thankfully. The brusing spread from the left to the right side of the face - 2 black eyes. He kept asking ,"What is all this around my eyes?" He doesn't remember or understand. They put in dissolving stiches on the 2 cuts on his cheek. Huge bruses appeared on his inner thigh. Its amazing how much better he looks now than that day in ER.

He now is fixated on going to the bathroom. He started this in the hosptal - no UTI - so not sure why this is happening - but do we ever REALLY know 'the whys' of Alzheimer's. We took him off Aricept about 2 months ago; he was hiding butter knives, sissors, pencils, forks - anything pointed and sharp - under his matress, in the recliner. He was getting more and more aggresive, angry. He actually seemed more 'with it' after being off the Aricept. He refused to use his walker,"I can do it myself". Maybe that's why he wanted to help and go down and get the mail that day he fell.

This experience has just galvinized my belief that you have to the advocate for your loved one. You have to fight and be a bit aggresive. Ask questions until you're blue in the face.
I don't want to dwell on the negative aspects of the hospital, but let me get some of it off my chest - twice they were going to give him he wrong antibiotic (he's allergic to penicilian and sulfa). His HB & Diabetes meds were late, the unwashed blood (we cleaned him ourselves once in the room), the supposidly ordered MRI (we walked to the room twice and were turned away), the nurse complaining that she was supposed to work in IC and not here - just some of the crazy, confused and unprofessional crap that went on there.

However there were 1 nice doc and 1 nice night nurse - thankfully - they restored my faith in mankind and our medical system.

And to add to all, this my husband has prostrate cancer. We start hormone injection next week, an MRI, and then 42 radiation sessions.
Life never waits untill you're ready - it just throws it all at 'ya. He seems so strong about it - I'm a wreck but I don't let him see it in me.
I'm trying to take it one day at a time but I'm getting 'lovely' bouts of IBS, anixety and depression - my personal triple crown of medical malidies.

Thanks again for your time. I know you all are going through your hells and I appreciate the time you give me. Your kindness and support means a lot to me.

Peace
Eileen

Oh my goodness, Eileen, I am sooo sorry, especially about
the news about your husband. Please know that we will continue
to be here and can take whatever it is you ever may need to get
off your chest. Just having a safe place to release will offer some
level of comfort, though I wish we could do more.
Thanks for the update,
Hang in there,
God Bless--
Carol

Oh Eileen, I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I will keep him in my prayers.
I'm glad to hear that at least dad is healing quickly. You must feel like you are just a big ball of stress.

Thanks for the update! I'm sorry to hear about your husband being ill, I'm praying for you all!

I understand about hiding sharp things, MIL went through a stage of leaving knives all around the kitchen. She still leaves them point up in the dishwasher and I've almost got myself good a couple times.

Kat

Eileen,
Glad to hear your dad is home and doing better. And yes your right about being an advocate for them. They can never be left alone for one minute in a hospital. From experience I got so tired of asking if they actually read the chart when they would come in and not know mom had AD, and asked her questions that she could not answer the right way. Did you have a bowel movement? Sure, I had a bowel movement. NOT!!! But she said she had a bowel movement! Did you read the chart? I could go on and on, but you already got the picture with your dad at the hospital.

Oh your having problems too with the walker thing huh? Can't tell you how many times the walker has been mentioned. I finally gave up, as the argueing was more than I could take and she just doesn't get that if she falls, well, you know the rest.
And even if you keep reminding your dad about his fall, and show him the bruises, he still might not get it to use the walker. Try the best you can, but in the end, they really do have their minds made up.

Sorry to hear about your husbands prostate cancer. On the positive side, it is so very common in men lately as men are getting checked much more than they use to. I know many men that have had it, and I say had as they are doing well. The common treatment from my understanding is the radiation, and is suppose to be very successful. So hang in there dear friend. Be the same way too with your husbands doctors, techs and so on. Ask questions, ask for answers and be an advocate for him also if you can. And learn as much about it as you can. You'd be surprised the more your educated on a medical problem, the less scarier it becomes.

And Eileen, keep in mind again, I'm just a stone throw away from you. Please, if you need to talk, give me a call. I'm here.

Keep us update on your husband and on your dad when you can. And of course let us know how your are doing. We're all her for you.

Jackie