Interesting article. When SO's mom moved in last year, it wasn't too stressful at first, but as her health started failing, and she had gotten to the point of being pretty much bed bound, it started taking a toll. I didn't think it was going to be too hard -after all I work from home so would be here to take care of her. We had not factored in that we would now have to lead a life of being on a schedule. Making three meals a day plus snacks twice a day, giving shots, giving out medications, being on the phone with clients when she needed a bed pan, not to mention two or three times a night with the bed pan, struggling to get her in and out of the shower. Because of my illness, and SO not being able to lift her to bring her out of the room, stress was slowly crept in. Because there was just he and I, our time out of the house together for any kind of one on one disappeared. We all have the same doctor, and he was the one who pushed to place her in a convalescent home - since she had a Mrsa infection he didn't want me to take a chance with my surgery, even though we gowned up, gloved up to take care of bathroom issues. SO ended up hurting his back really badly, and I ended up with a hernia just trying to move her to sit up or roll her on her side so she didnt get bed sores.
The whole thing really freaked me out as sooner or later we will be in the same position. It would probably have been better if we had family members to help out.
Marcie
Her illness took a toll on her as well as she had always lived alone and done things for herself and wasn't a happy camper she was now so dependent-the longer it went on the more disagreeable she became. We didn't like the idea of placing her, but thought it would be better for her to be among people her own age - they have lots of activities and she does get out of her room to mingle but she still thinks she will be comming back home but neither one of us will be able to take care of her anymore.