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hang in there, venting!!
i bet those dark clouds will soon go away!! head up, and keep going. and find new ways, new paths. use those terrible days to make something nice out of it!!

there are many things in life that are out of our control. when i have a bad day, i look at what i can control. then i try to make the absolute best out of that!
🍀🍀🍀✨🍀🍀🍀
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I hope all of you are well!

I need to vent. I’m having a terrible day. Just needed to write that.
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Golden,
In the case of your cat, it will feel oh so much better coming back inside where it is warm.
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way -it is nice gong out with family, and nice seeing them together -as many as we could arrange. The grandson still has to have surgery. His appendix ruptured into the abscess, so I was told, so he is on antibiotics and will have surgery in a few months time. Glad yiu enjoyed the hockey game with your kids. Hope the storm isn't too bad. Be careful shoveling. R has a ton of that at the farm. Definitely crockpot weather.

cw - more cold here but warming up this week. Only one more month of the really bad stuff. Prairie sunshine is the best!!!☀️

send - you are right - going outside makes you feel better. Tell my cat that at 25 below!

This year I decided that I am avoiding really low temps. Previous years I have not liked them but put up with them if I had to go out. This year is different. I will do what I have to do to stay inside - like colour and cut my own hair. Thankfully the dinner theatre night was not really cold. All part of getting older.
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Outside, there is sunshine.
You don't need to feel better to go outside.

You need to go outside to feel better.
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We are getting a storm, over a foot of snow tomorrow . Not happy about that .
I’ve got the crock pot on today for nice hot meal to reheat tomorrow . Will be shoveling on and off all day , I’m sure .
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I take it all back, we are getting some prairie sunshine today and it's glorious!!! 🌞
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Golden - I think you may have left the door open when you headed down to Calgary and some of your weather got out, please shut it right away!🤪😜
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@Golden ,

Typos ??? What typos ? 😂 I’m not the typo police .
I’m glad you have been having some fun times , but sorry about how you suffer as well . I hope you feel better soon.
Glad your grandson is ok too.
It is fun to go to events with others . We recently went to a hockey game with our kids.
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Way - Sorry about the typos. I had brain fog the last few days - too much going on on the weekend -went to Calgary for some tine with some of R's family, then back Sunday night to dinner theatre here with some of my family. It overloaded me (CFS), In particular the water park in Calgary is extremely noisy and the restaurant that night was too. But I got through it and I am paying for it now.

One of G's grandsons have shot up 6 inches (age 13 and tall people in his family), My youngest grandson had an appendix rupture and just got out of hospital on Saturday.
However It all worked out pretty well. I may try to do the dinner theatre family thing once a year. it's a good way to get everyone together and we go fairly regularly anyway.

At my age you never know if there will be a next time...

Please keep us updated on your sis. I guess it's a waiting game right now till she gets bad enough for an NH. Poor nephew. God forbid I should ever do that to one of my kids. It shouldn't happen here with gov't supported facilities.
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Thanks Golden .
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OOPS - some real typos - correction

Way - I'm sorry that things are so difficult for your nephew. Seems to be a fault with the system. I hope he can hire good aides. This could go on for a while yet.
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Waay, I'm sorry that things are so difficult for your nephew. Seems to be aidesa faukt with the system. I hope he can hire good aides. Thgias could go on for a while yet.

Eva sounds like a very nice place for your hub. I don't know that good care can ever be guaranteed. You just have to deal with it when the time comes.

Hothouse - I sure understand about unloading your feelings. I think a break would be a good idea. You are having a lot to deal with.
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Way,
Here studio about $3000-4000. We also have public for less, dingy places but most pay only $2400 per month.
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Evamar ,

That’s a big apartment . That would cost more by me . My FIL had an apartment like that , was almost $9,000 2 years ago .
$5,000-6,000 here just for a studio .

My mother was in AL 19 months
My FIL 20 months .
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Cwillie,
It is not affordability.
But how is this possible not to get care while paying a lot?
And yes you are right.
My husband really likes the place and met some interesting people with similar interests. And it looks less institutional. Like a nice hotel.
And nice apartment with bedroom, LR, den and terrace.
I really want him to live well with some dignity but I am concerned if he is going to be safe?
Sadly, statistically people stay in ALs about 22 months, some say 2-3 years before they need NH.
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Hothouseflower ,

Maybe stop visiting your father at least for awhile. It doesn’t do him any good and it stresses you out .
I think your husband’s recent close call ( stroke) is a lot on top of how you were already feeling before your husband’s stroke. You are burnt .
I’m suprised you are visiting Dad right now . Give yourself a break . Go back home to the West coast for at least 3 months , hopefully longer .
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I haven't looked at AL facilities for a long while but my take is that the newer/higher priced facilities don't necessarily provide a higher level of care or a better quality of life, they just feel nicer and less institutional. I guess that it can be worth it for the higher functioning folks who can still make use of the amenities and want something that doesn't feel like a nursing home lite. And can afford it 🤷‍♀️
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Evamar ,

I came across that as well when looking for AL for loved ones .
Although at my mother ‘s it was all included one price , which is rare . That was how they marketed themselves as different from other facilities.
Many here give basic care like shower twice a week ,,
but once a resident needs more care, there are levels of care with added charges as you described . The pendent is extra in most places as far as I have come across .

The worst was I toured an AL where everything was a la carte .
They actually charged to place someone on the toilet , and then again to get them off. Same with getting someone dressed or undressed . Take off incontinence product and replace . In bed or out of bed . Pushed in wheelchair to the dining room and back. Everything was one way charge , no round trips .
This leaves someone open for charges for multi trips to the bathroom or for incontinence care without really having proof how many times it was actually done . I did not even consider those facilities and the base for no care , just rent , housekeeping and food was a lot too. Laundry is also extra at some places .
My mothers pay one price place , I only paid for her phone seperate and the hairdresser . Satellite TV was included . Laundry was included , and all care.
Of course she would have Doctor bills and RX to pay for but that’s usual no matter where one lives.
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I relayed a lot of truthful but nasty thoughts about how I felt about my mother to my father this morning. It ended with telling him I wish you married someone else and I’m glad she’s gone.

My husband was horrified but it just came out of me. DH was reminiscing with my father about those 5 years we lived in the basement at my parents. Apparently we have different perspectives about those days. I said i didn’t have any warm and fuzzy memories about those miserable months and I unleashed a torrent of feelings.

Sad thing is I don’t feel bad about saying what I did. My father didn’t understand a word or if he did he chose to ignore it. I only wish I said it sooner so he would hear it.
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Way,
No, health system does not cover private.
It is first or ground floor apartment. Yes, he walks with walker.
Yes, pendant cost extra.
I cannot get out of my head, the place where people come for help does not provide that.
It is more of safety and principle of things, how is it he will contribute to salaries of workers and receive nothing in terms of actual care?
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Evamar ,

Those costs seem about the same as the US. Curious … Does your health care system cover any of that ?
As far as safety concerns , is your husband walking on his own ( with a walker ) ? Does the AL give the residents a fall pendent ?
I did make sure LO’s were in a one story AL or on the first floor if possible for quicker evacuation in case of fire .
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Way,
so sorry about your sister.
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Golden ,

Sis is being discharged back home on Monday . She does not qualify for SNF yet . Nephew will have to hire help . Sis can not be home alone when he’s at work . Memory care would wipe out her small savings quickly . Walking is very unsteady . And of course she thinks there is nothing wrong with her . As is common for many caregivers , her dementia is very difficult for the caregiver as well .
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On my mind? So much. Shock of my life not because of cost but what is provided in apparently good AL.
My husband is going next month to private facility and cost is astronomical. Over $5,000 which more likely will be $6,000 or more.
The problem is how much actual care is provided in that price?
None. Just apartment and meals. Everything is extra!
There is “menu” to choose from additional services, meds, night check etc. each about $400 per month which I think to begin with will be another $2,000 per month.
But monthly payment from each resident contributes to salaries for aides and people don’t receive anything?
Any thoughts of safety concerns in AL?
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Oh hothouse. I hope so too. Trust his driving went ok.

way. How’s your sis doing?
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My husband is driving the first time by himself since his stroke. I’m a little nervous and I put an Apple tag in the car. Feel a little guilty about it but don’t want to be over protective. I’ve driven with him and he’s okay.

Im grateful he is physically okay but I have to say he’s been in a bad mood a lot. He was always obsessive about certain things but I’m finding situations have come up these past two weeks where he’s been over the top. I know this was traumatic for him and I am really trying to be kind and understanding. . I’m glad to have him here with me but I hope he goes back to how he was before.

i read about it, it is normal and it could be temporary or not. Time will tell.
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Oh way.. That's so dreadful for your nephew. I understand why you are concerned and why he is stressed out. The system is failing him and his mother. What happens to her if he breaks down? They will find a solution,. It shouldn't come to that.
I'm glad they found rehabs when he stood his ground and understand his worries about running out of money. I gather the state offers nothing to help those needing memory care who do not have finances. - it means the family must do the caring. That's very hard - too hard!!!
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Golden ,

Yeah they give her meds , they should give it regularly though at bedtime rather than waiting for her to get agitated .

They tried to tell nephew today that PT , OT said she could go home with care set up . Nephew told them absolutely not , that she goes to rehab for now at least . He told them she’s still too confused for him to deal with her delusions . Shes accusing him of wasting her money again from when she was at the board and care home , which last time triggered an investigation when she called the Agency of Aging to complain . Of course there was no wrong doing . He told the social worker today at the hospital that he has to work and she can’t be home alone . So Hmmm , miracle , they found 3 rehab places for nephew to choose from . He doesn’t know what to do about her . But nephew says if she doesn’t improve she will need memory care which is very expensive and risks running out of money . She’s walking with help and a walker and feeding herself , so SNF is not an option. Imo she needs memory care even if she improves somewhat but I understand nephews reasons for trying to put it off some .,
He is distraught , he said he can’t live with her when she’s like this but he’s afraid of placing her in memory care and running out of money . I am very concerned about my nephew, he’s very stressed out .
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Way -that's so frustrating. Are there any meds that will help? There comes a point when none of the options are ideal.
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