AboutMargot RN BScN GNC Expertise GERONTOLOGY (NURSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE ELDERY) I have 15+ years experience working with the elderly. I would be pleased to offer any assistance I can. My areas of expertise include: Gerontology / Geriatrics, Long Term Care, Community Nursing, Palliative Care, Private Nursing Services, Intermediate / Extended Care. I also have a personal interest in Homeopathic and Eastern Medicine. If I can not answer your question I`ll do my best to direct you to an appropriate resource. Thank you.
Experience I have fifteen years experience in Gerontological Nursing both in the community, and in Long Term Care. I have worked as a General Duty Nurse, a Nurse Manager, and a Nursing Consultant in Long Term Care and Community Nursing.I have a great deal of experience working with, assessing, and educating in the field of Gerontology (Nursing the Elderly). I am familiar with the challenges associated with Dementia (Alzheimer's), Chronic and Terminal illnesses. Experience in the area 20 years of Long Term Care and Community Nursing, specialising in Geriatrics, Gerontology and PalliativeCare.
Education/Credentials Registered Nurse , Certified Gerontological Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Question I didn't know who else to ask, so I hope you can give me some suggestions. I'd like to know if there's anything I can do to make my mother's life better or if it's not really a useful pursuit. My mother left my family when I was 9 yrs. old due to mental illness that was diagnosed as bipolar 10 yrs. later. She's now 76 yrs. old in a "rehabilitation center" but I don't think she'll ever leave it. They adjusted her meds so that she is lucid - I can have a conversation with her on the phone, but it's noisy there, so it's hard for her to hear and she lives a few hundred miles away from me. She, and her husband who visits her every day, live off of social security. She says she'd like me to call her more often, but she doesn't have anything to say. She talks about how she's constipated. She doesn't watch tv, read books or newspapers or do anything so she doesn't have anything to talk about and she doesn't ask about how my family is. She doesn't try to exercise; she needs assistance with a walker. Longevity runs in the family, so she could be like this for another 20 yrs. She has no teeth, so taking her out to a restaurant if I go to visit wouldn't work either. I think it's a sad situation and wish I could do something. I call a few times a year and send gifts - mostly to my step father now and just cards, photos, and letters to my mother. What kind of life is that?! Does it even pay to consider trying to make her life better? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for volunteering here.
Answer Hi Joy and thanks for writing,
I am sorry to hear about your Mother's condition, it sounds like she's had a difficult life experience.
People who live in institutional setting become extremely institutionalized and pretty much forget about the world outside their facility, sometimes even their floor. They do become completely focused on their daily routines and get upset if their medications are 5 minutes late, a meal is not great or they don't move their bowels often enough - that is their whole world!
If you want to improve her life I would suggest you speak to some of the staff at her 'home' and ask what she enjoys and what they suggest could improve her quality of life. Speak to nurses on hr unit, to the director of care and also speak to a few activity aides - between all of them you should get a few pertinent ideas.
If you want to spend some quality time with her, I would listen to her and what she wants. I see all too often families doing things they think are fun for a resident, but really just upset and stress them out (like when all the kids show up on Mothers Day and drag their Mothers away from the safe an familiar wards and tae them to homes full of loud people and excited kids, the residents return very upset and often get sick from the physical and emotional stress of such a long trip off the unit). If your Mother talks a lot about something, then see how you can fit that into a visit; if she complains about the food (a common complaint in all institutions) then ask her what she'd like and bring a picnic one day with the foods she requests.
I hope this helps and I hope it answers your questions, all my best,
