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Michelle and I have safely returned from our week of gluttony, consumerism, and celebration in middle America. It was actually a great visit with my family - the highlights being bowling with almost everybody on Thanksgiving/my birthday and karaoke for the 'youngsters' (me being the youngest at 35) on Friday followed by an after-midnight visit to the diner on the edge of Cleveland.
I'm hoping for a mostly uneventful week before plunging back into holiday madness. This is not likely, however, as there are some dire developments on the other side of my family. My mother lives with her oldest sister in a cottage at a senior care facility outside of Ephrata, about 80 miles from Philadelphia. My aunt's health has been failing and she was admitted to the hospital last weekend and was there through the entire week. We're not sure what all is going on, but it's possible that she had a stroke as she spent a few days acting very confused and disoriented, among other symptoms. She is currently improving but it's clear that she'll be need more intensive support than their current arrangement allows when she leaves the hospital.
My mother is neither interested in nor very capable of living by herself in their cottage for the long term. Her physical health is quite good, but she has been developing a dementia, most likely Alzheimer's, over the past decade or so. Ben and I, along with some of our cousins who are taking responsibility for our aunt's care, are trying to figure out the best arrangements for all concerned, so I think there will be some more difficult conversations and decisions this week.
I'm hoping for a mostly uneventful week before plunging back into holiday madness. This is not likely, however, as there are some dire developments on the other side of my family. My mother lives with her oldest sister in a cottage at a senior care facility outside of Ephrata, about 80 miles from Philadelphia. My aunt's health has been failing and she was admitted to the hospital last weekend and was there through the entire week. We're not sure what all is going on, but it's possible that she had a stroke as she spent a few days acting very confused and disoriented, among other symptoms. She is currently improving but it's clear that she'll be need more intensive support than their current arrangement allows when she leaves the hospital.
My mother is neither interested in nor very capable of living by herself in their cottage for the long term. Her physical health is quite good, but she has been developing a dementia, most likely Alzheimer's, over the past decade or so. Ben and I, along with some of our cousins who are taking responsibility for our aunt's care, are trying to figure out the best arrangements for all concerned, so I think there will be some more difficult conversations and decisions this week.
posted by fraczard at 9:31 PM
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