Nurses! Need some help....

Chris,  I am sorry for all you are dealing with.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  I know it has to be very stressful on you and wally.  Hopefully she wont be in a lot of pain and have to be separated from her husband for long.

Huge hugs,
Tracy

Thank you everyone for your well wishes, info, and prayers.  Getting ready to head up to the hospital now.  Thanks again.  You all rock!

Chris,

I'm not a nurse but had worked in nursing homes in my younger days (which is why I had decided NOT to become a nurse). From my experience, whenever we had a patient to break a hip, they usually did not survive because they had trouble getting through the rehab and would stay in a laying position and wind up with pnumonia and die from that. I am assuming they have a neck brace on your mil..so I would guess that recovery will depend on how much/how long they keep her sedated. Understandably, they don't want her being in pain...but...being sedated for the elderly opens the door for pnumonia..and since she just got over pnumonia, that doesn't improve her outloook. I would gently let your hubby know your concerns. He may be more prepared for this than you think. Bill was more prepared for his Mom's death than I think I was.

If your mil doesn't survive, I think i would highly suggest that the fil go spend some time with his daughter and let her see how difficult it is for him not to have around the clock care.

I know it's a difficult situation when the parents become the children. They don't want to let go of their independence. I wouldn't either.

huggs...
Sherri

Chris I am so very sorry about your mil's accident.  I hope she gets the very best treatment and is made comfortable while she recovers.  Hang in there, I know how hard it can be to become the caregiver for our elderly loved ones. 

Jeannie

Thanks everyone for your prayers, good thoughts, and advice.

MIL is stable at this time.  She is in a neck brace, and being kept in an upright position.  Right now, their biggest concern is her kidneys.  Her renal function tests are not good.  Her potassium level is way too high.

We did express our concerns to the nursing staff.  They said the social worker will probably be contacting us.

SIL's are raising hell.  They plan to be here in two weeks, and feel that both parents are better off in their own apartment.  Of course.  They do not live here.  They don't have to deal with it.  They can't even bathe themselves.  Home health aides come in every other day to bathe them.

One lives in NYC, one in NJ, and one in VA.  The one in NJ has only been here to visit one time in the 11 years I've been married.  The other two hadn't been out here in 5-6 years, and just started coming out once per year about 3 years ago.

I'm tellin' ya - save back bail money.  I'm going to need it.

Christie, I am so sorry about your MIL.  My Dad (86) was in bad shape in 2007.  Wound up going from St Francis on Emerson into the Meadows in Mooresville.  We were very impressed with the facility and the folks.  Hope things work out OK.  1 good thing is the wicked SIL's will eventually go home!  It may put the burden on your Husband and you, but better than dealing with them.  Maybe the parents need to give their son POA, now if not already done?  Maybe a good time to contact Hospice?  Americare Hospice was an answer to pur prayers, (877-736-0055) so considerate and kind, not just to Dad, but all of us.  You are all in my prayers, I know this is a difficult time for you. 

Talk to the hospital social worker. She should be able to help you thru the process. She will most likely need to be in long term care until she heals and then on to rehab. You FIL will need to help with decision making. My prayers are with you. I worked as a geriatric nurse for years. If you check out nursing homes ask what the ratio is for nurse to patient. Wendy