This blog is about life with my husband who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's and Frontal Lobe Dementia in 2008. He was 64 at the time although now, knowing more about the disease, Alzheimer's was present many, many years ago, which is why early detection is so important. As you read the blog the character "Al" that I created in 2008, represents the way that Alzheimer's is invading our daily lives.
There is an archive tab further down the page that starts from the beginning of our journey.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Living with Bob and Al

Sheri keeps thinking all of this will get easier. But with each new day a new decision has to be made. And each new decision requires another decision. Leave Bob and "Al" the nursing home, or go to Adult Day Care, Adult Day Care closer to work, or closer to home, MA will not let you change county's, that option is out, which Adult Day Care, they close at 5:pm,( and that is there extended hours) Sheri works till 5:pm, She can't afford to keep her house, but if She leaves "them" in the nursing home she can't even afford to move the apartments that she manages.... Sheri is having to consider options she had never really considered in order to survive. Sheri has worked hard all of her life and has always been able to provide for her family is not sure how life brought her to this point. Sheri wants and needs a lifeline...

4 comments:

  1. Have you talked to your state senator? I think I saw you are in Minnesota. Check this website - www.minnesotahelp.info
    Talk to an eldercare lawyer to help Bob and Al as well as you - sliding fee or pro bono might be an option. You are on the right path.

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  2. Sheri, I know how hard this is for you. The decisions that we have to make as Care Givers pull on our heart strings; making decisions more difficult.

    An idea that may work is if you can have someone come to the house, be there to greet Bob and Al when they get home? Home Care Givers are my life line. I don't know what I'd do without their help. The cost is about 20-25 an hour if you go through an agency.

    In my experience, it takes about an hour for the van to make the rounds and bring my mom home.

    Do you think the van would drop him off at your office so that you can take him home at 5 when you get out of work?

    I will keep thinking of different options. There's got to be a way that this can work for you, Bob and Al.

    Big hugs for strength!

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  3. I did a search for the program that my mom is on... they have it in your state of MN. Here's the URL - http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/waiver.pdf

    If you already know this information - please excuse me for sending it.

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  4. I am so sorry . I wish I could toss Sherry a lifeline but I need one myself.

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