Nursing Homes In Yuma...the shame continues
It is my shame, I suppose, that my mother had to go into one. My sister and I were both out of money, space and answers. Living side by side in condos in Yuma, our mother eaten away by Alzheimers was taken from her home in Tucson, out to a retirement village in Yuma, a nice place really.
But, as predicted, she deteriorated quickly, became violent, hospitalized, more violence, and for a 100 pound, five foot deteriorating love-lump, uncontrollable.
My sister Pat and I were at a loss, in debt, out of work, her retired, me hanging on with a social security check and part time teaching pay in one of the poorest towns in America. Pat, suffering from breast cancer, Mom running wild - we had no choice.
Once, I baby sat Mom in Pat's home next door. She sat in stony silence, me watching. She sat bolt upright, charged out the door, so fast, I couldn't keep up with her. Down the middle of the street, half way to the hospital and stopped dead in the middle of the highway, lost in her thoughts. She threw my arms off her, walked back and grew silent again.
Pat and I shopped for nursing homes.
In Yuma, Arizona it is the best-of-the-worst, at best. Mom had funds, left from Dad working, I tried to manage the money, eventually it ran out, we went on state aid, which took everything except $75 a month in spending cash for incidentals. (I think they actually enjoyed doing that.)
They locked her in. Pat and I went in to see her at odd hours making sure she was all right, cared for. We both fell into a deep depression. Windows scummy, staff indifferent, I found mom, abandoned in the middle of the hall, bent over in a wheel chair with a blanket over her head. I was so angry, I left.
I was afraid to stay for fear of what I might do to the staff I was so furious. They were more interested in covering their own asses than caring for their charges. I went in with a camera and took pictures and the Executive called me to his office and demanded the film.
The other "nursing " homes were various shades of awful.
We had no resources other than our own money, which was in short supply. Mom died peacefully, and out of it. One of the last things she said that made sense was, " I never thought I would end up in a place like this."
I didn't either Mom. I wonder if they make a profit there, or, if THEY sleep at night.
###
But, as predicted, she deteriorated quickly, became violent, hospitalized, more violence, and for a 100 pound, five foot deteriorating love-lump, uncontrollable.
My sister Pat and I were at a loss, in debt, out of work, her retired, me hanging on with a social security check and part time teaching pay in one of the poorest towns in America. Pat, suffering from breast cancer, Mom running wild - we had no choice.
Once, I baby sat Mom in Pat's home next door. She sat in stony silence, me watching. She sat bolt upright, charged out the door, so fast, I couldn't keep up with her. Down the middle of the street, half way to the hospital and stopped dead in the middle of the highway, lost in her thoughts. She threw my arms off her, walked back and grew silent again.
Pat and I shopped for nursing homes.
In Yuma, Arizona it is the best-of-the-worst, at best. Mom had funds, left from Dad working, I tried to manage the money, eventually it ran out, we went on state aid, which took everything except $75 a month in spending cash for incidentals. (I think they actually enjoyed doing that.)
They locked her in. Pat and I went in to see her at odd hours making sure she was all right, cared for. We both fell into a deep depression. Windows scummy, staff indifferent, I found mom, abandoned in the middle of the hall, bent over in a wheel chair with a blanket over her head. I was so angry, I left.
I was afraid to stay for fear of what I might do to the staff I was so furious. They were more interested in covering their own asses than caring for their charges. I went in with a camera and took pictures and the Executive called me to his office and demanded the film.
The other "nursing " homes were various shades of awful.
We had no resources other than our own money, which was in short supply. Mom died peacefully, and out of it. One of the last things she said that made sense was, " I never thought I would end up in a place like this."
I didn't either Mom. I wonder if they make a profit there, or, if THEY sleep at night.
###
Comments
Post a Comment