In going over the calendar for the last two months, I can’t believe the timeline.
June 2: the last time mom came upstairs for coffee – she walked by herself.
June 10: she was in a wheelchair when we took her for a tour of Crossroads Hospice. At that time she wanted to move in right away, and we said it was too early. Mom’s sister, Cinda, was here and agreed. Mom got Cinda up several times each night having to pee. At that time mom could still stand and shift her legs around enough to be manoevred from bed to walker, walker to toilet.
June 17: Home Care started coming twice a day. Mom’s sister Jeannie was here and had a troublesome time, with mom getting her up several times a night, and generally being demanding.
June 22: Took mom to see Boxed Hero, The Girl’s dance play in the Shift 1‑Act Play Festival. That is the last time she went on an outing.
June 30: Matt and I call a family meeting with Kev and Kath – we need to talk about our criteria. What are we waiting for? How do we decide when it’s time…when Matt and I can no longer keep going like this?
July 2: The lift is supposed to be installed in mom’s room. I have phoned to cancel it because we’ve decided it’s time for mom to go into hospice.
July 4: Mom moves into hospice.
I was shocked to go back through the calendar and realise that it was only two-and-a-half weeks between our tour of Crossroads, and mom’s moving in. It felt like way, way longer… weeks and weeks.