Caroline5
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Re: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
DrewE wrote: I see you've gotten a lot of good advice and information, but oddly not a lot answering the specific question (about difficulty traveling in a motorhome). While it would probably be more comfortable than a car, a motorhome is generally not at all ideal for an incapacitated elderly person. The entry to most motorhomes involves a fairly narrow door and several relatively steep steps, and the interior is often rather tight, precluding navigation with a whelechair or walker. The toilets are often lower to the floor than normal residential toilets, with little room to maneuver around them. A class C motorhome is not going to give an exceptionally smooth ride, though of course a lot depends on how rough the roads are. A diesel pusher with air suspension would be a nicer ride...but finding one to rent might be a big challenge. That's not to suggest that it would be an impossible plan, only that in my opinion not as easy as it might seem at first. I think taking the train would be a lot simpler and more comfortable and have better facilities for a disabled person. Even a large sedan with lots of back seat space would in my opinion likely be more practical.503Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
fla-gypsy wrote: This is a difficult position you find yourself in. Avoiding assisted living is not going to be easy. With that type of injury mobility is an overriding problem that is difficult to overcome. My mother is also that age and only lives 2 miles from me and I think I would still consider assisted living in those circumstances. I know that's not what you wanted to hear but you can't let emotion cloud what is already a difficult problem to overcome. I posted my response with wrong quote. Sorry503Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
fla-gypsy wrote: This is a difficult position you find yourself in. Avoiding assisted living is not going to be easy. With that type of injury mobility is an overriding problem that is difficult to overcome. My mother is also that age and only lives 2 miles from me and I think I would still consider assisted living in those circumstances. I know that's not what you wanted to hear but you can't let emotion cloud what is already a difficult problem to overcome. Lol, taken away from her and she might even be faced with giving up her dog. She flipped out and got angry with me. Last fall while I was visiting I took her to look at an assisted living community and they welcomed the dog with open arms. She503Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
Caroline5 wrote: SCVJeff wrote: What about a stair lift? We would have to see how much room is required on the second floor as the landing there is tiny, about 3.5 x 3.5. Lol, no, that isn't what my mother wants to hear. I sat down with her 10 years ago and tried to talk with her about selling the house and moving into a one story home or assisted living. I warned her that the day may come when she will fall, break her leg and the choice will be taken away from her and she might even be faced with giving up her dog. She flipped out and got angry with me. Last fall while I was visiting I took her to look at an assisted living community and they welcomed the dog with open arms. She chose not to move because she didn't want to have to take her outside several times a day to go potty. That time again she got upset with me when I expressed my concern about the stairs. So now here we are, the choice has been made for her and she is afraid of loosing her dog. I am doing my best to figure out what the best option is now. There are some things I can put on the backburner for a while, but there are others, like spending time with my first grand child and helping my daughter plan her wedding I can't.503Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
Joyce in NY wrote: By the way, please keep in mind that traveling that distance to come to your home will be very difficult. Every little jostle to her body will hurt her leg and interfere with healing. Please keep in mind that I posted here because I am gathering information so that we can have options and make an informed decision. I'm not against going up there, I dropped everything twice before, the first time I flew over to England for a month to care for my 69 year old aunt who was dying of brain cancer, leaving husband at home with 7 kids ranging from age 18 - age 3. The second time to NYC to take care of my 80 year old dad who was undergoing cancer treatment. The problem this time is that I won't be able to go for as long as she needs me as I already need to fly to Edmonton to help my daughter after she delivers her baby. After that I've got a little over a month and a half to finish preparations for my middle daughter's wedding.503Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
Homer wrote: I would put her in assisted living and bring the dog home with you. The poster on the insurance problem is right on, and this is not time to test the water on that. There are many other consequential matters to consider here as well as her daily mobility. Assisted living WITH dog would be the best option. The dog is already a St Johns Ambulance certified therapy dog. A dog walker would need to be arranged to take her out to go potty. How do snowbirds handle medical insurance issues?503Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
darsben wrote: Caroline5 wrote: Naio wrote: I wonder if it would be a good idea to set up a bed, clothes storage, etc, on the ground floor of her house -- even if it has to be in the corner of the living room. In the long term, at her age, it is not going to be practical to have all the bedrooms upstairs. She might even be able to stay in her house with the current injury, if she can sleep downstairs and have some one to help her (family or a hired caregiver). I agree that the train would be as comfortable as an RV, and much simpler. I crossed the US by train with a broken foot, once. The stewards and red caps are very nice, and will drive you through the station on their electric trucks if you ask :) There is not bathroom or toilet on the main floor. IN a bedroom the bathroom is right there IN THE ROOM We did already discuss that option and I wish it were possible, but this is an old house built in about 1911. It still has original plaster walls, hardwood floors etc. The main floor consists of kitchen, livingroom and diningroom, there is no room for a bathroom and putting one in would decrease the charm and value of this beautiful old home. Even the bathroom upstairs can not be remodeled as it has the original clawfoot tub.187Views0likes0CommentsRe: Newbie here, no RV, but have serious situation. need advice
Naio wrote: I wonder if it would be a good idea to set up a bed, clothes storage, etc, on the ground floor of her house -- even if it has to be in the corner of the living room. In the long term, at her age, it is not going to be practical to have all the bedrooms upstairs. She might even be able to stay in her house with the current injury, if she can sleep downstairs and have some one to help her (family or a hired caregiver). I agree that the train would be as comfortable as an RV, and much simpler. I crossed the US by train with a broken foot, once. The stewards and red caps are very nice, and will drive you through the station on their electric trucks if you ask :) There is not bathroom or toilet on the main floor.187Views0likes0Comments
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