Joining the club

I have a profound respect not only for my sister but also for all the people who work full time beyond their normal life to take care of an aging parent.

I'm in NJ helping out my mother. I originally came to offer support to my sister, but the night I arrived I stopped at my sister's to say hello, and just as I was leaving she got a call from my mom's neighbor - my mom had fallen in the basement.

Two days later she is home. Oh, she broke a bone in her hand, so she has a splint. Boy, it's hard learning to navigate all the systems and taking care of your life while doing so. I haven't worked since I left CA (and thus I don't get paid). Hospitals throw old people for loops, so it's been hard seeing my mom so out of it - no knowing where she was, etc. Luckily she always has known who I was.

Now the bigger questions come of what's her next phase in life. I've talked to a number of doctors and two social workers, and still not sure what's happening. We want to give her time at home to see how she does, and then figure out level of support - be it 24 hour, or whether it can be less. Gotta look into Lifeline. "help, I can't get up!"

It's been two overwhelming days, and thank goodness there's six of us. I can't imagine doing all this by myself.

But, now I have to sleep since I have no idea when my mom will get up and thus I'll need to get up.