Time Marches On and so does our aging

I tell you, my my how time rushes away from us! Since I posted (has it been THAT long?), I have really been into LIFE HAPPENING! My mother...she was in the hospital with a little old minor kidney infection (a result of her having dementia, which is a WHOLE OTHER story). You might wonder why a simple kidney infection would put someone in the hospital. Well, Boomer reader, you have no idea what stuff like that can do to an older gal (or maybe you do). Mother, who is 88 years old, by the way, didn't take such good care of herself and ended up with this infection. Then, once she was over it, the doc put her in a nursing home. That is also another story. However, I am here to tell you...if there's ANY way that you can keep yourself or your loved ones out of a nursing home, do it. You do NOT want someone you love in a "skilled nursing center". My mother is in one of the best. I will post some of the challenges associated with that another time.
So, mom went BACK to the hospital, then to a specialty hospital. Then back to the nursing home. Have you seen a "specialty hospital"? It's really cool...less than a hospital, but with more individualized care. They don't do operations, but they have labs, etc. Great for a transition from hospital to nursing home. I loved Mother being there! Now she's in the nursing home again. I am trying to meet all her nurses and aides and such...just to make sure someone is checking on her and trying to make her more of a memorable (read "someone to care about and check up on") person to the staff. That's not always easy to do.
There's some pretty good tips here about how to pick nursing homes and skilled centers. Don't skimp on the homework! If you have been thinking that your loved one needs to go, be sure to read up on what the National Safety Council advises, too.
Suffice it to say...stay away from skilled nursing unless there's just NO other choice! I'm an "only kid", and was planning on Mom and Dad being at my house (didn't I say I had construction problems?), but now...Dad will just have to come on and visit me (he doesn't want to LIVE here) until I get the house addition finished. Daddy will get used to it if I start now having him come visit for a night or two here and there. Mom...well, the Doctors say she will never come home again...try telling her husband of 60+ years that information...another day.