Mom is scheduled to be released from rehab this week.  Several weeks ago, the staff recommended adult foster care as Mom’s best next step.  While she’s been working very hard and has made great progress, her health is up and down and she still needs professional assistance.  She isn’t steady enough on her feet to consistently stand and move independently.

She also has intermittent problems with short-term memory and time orientation.  We’re thankful that her long-term memory has not been affected by what she’s been through.  She always remembers family, friends, and her past.  She reads all of her letters, cards, emails, and texts.  She immediately recognizes all of the senders, including acquaintances from near and far.  She’s interested in the news everyone shares and she explains to us who people are and how she knows them.

The very severe pain she had in her hip and leg is essentially gone.  Our ability to heal is amazing.  It’s only been six weeks since Mom could reliably sit up.  Now she does formal physical, occupational, and speech therapy six days a week plus some on her own.  Four days last week, she did laps in the halls in her wheelchair.  The staff in the hallways really cheered her on.  That sure brought a big smile to her face!

Mom reached an important milestone last Wednesday.   Until that time, she required two-person transfers (two CNA’s to help as needed when she stood or walked).  She can now help enough that it takes only one person to help her move safely.

The switch to one-person transfers means that she’s now eligible to go to adult foster care.  Because care homes are small (in Oregon, the maximum number of residents allowed is five), there’s often only one staff member present in the daytime.   Thus, most care homes cannot accommodate those who need two-person transfers.

After much research and visiting every adult care home in our area with availability, one stood out as the best fit for Mom.  The owners/caregivers are deeply caring and experienced.  She’s a registered nurse and he’s a former nursing home administrator.  We’ve visited multiple times and the environment is warm, loving, and peaceful, but also stimulating.  We think Mom will appreciate many things about the smaller and homier environment.   She’ll also continue with rehab.  Besides what she’ll receive from the care manager, therapists will also come to the house.

As always, thank you for your thoughts, prayers, cards, texts, emails, and other support.  It means more to Mom and our family than we know how to express.

Marcia and Family