Caring for Grandma

Posted by Laura on June 17, 2004 at 17:32:13

In Reply to: TF & a new support tactic? posted by Whiskers on June 12, 2004 at 01:59:22:

I was in a Latin American home once and the mother of one of the sisters came down from Canada to visit, and while there took a fall and broke her hip and ended up being in the hospital and then on crutches for about six months. We took turns round the clock with her in the local hospital, esp. since she did not speak the local language, and then when she was released she stayed in our Home all the time she was on crutches. She lived alone in Canada and did not want to go back there until she felt able to be on her own again, and certainly didn't want to have to enter some kind of long term care, even temporarily.

Yes, she contributed to the finances of the Home while she stayed with us and it was a help. But that is not why we did it...we did it because she was a lovely lady, had a child and grandchildren in the Home, and it was the right thing to do. We simply kept any adult or sexual activities very discreet, which we did anyway because we had lots of kids in the Home. All the kids benefitted greatly from having a genuine white haired sweet grandma around and learned as well to care for another.

Personally, I think it could in some circumstances be a good thing for all concerned.

Although I am no longer in the Family, I hope when I retire my kids will be willing to take me in, perhaps on a rotating basis, and that includes the daughter who is still in the Family. And I'd be happy to contribute of my retirement funds to whoever I am living with.

- Laura