Newsletters
Our newsletters are published monthly.
Listing of CFSM newsletters. To view, click the appropriate links;
Note from Luke: Below is a response from one of our members who has shared her experience, relating to the March 2008 Newsletter;
JOURNEY’S END
We had to care for my mil, who had Alzheimer’s. It was a difficult time for us as she was constantly shouting and asking either to go out or to be fed. She was later bed-ridden where she was cared for at home for about a year. Subsequently, she was hospitalised due to fever from bed sore and put in nursing home care for 3 yrs where she was tube-fed and soon unable to recognise anyone. She passed away 2 yrs ago at the age of 91.
Now, my nightmare is being repeated. My fil is 94. He was hospitalised in Nov ’07 and since then, his condition has deteriorated. He’s been in and out of hospitals several times and now he is bed-ridden and on tube-feeding. On top of this, the maid has now to learn how to use the suction pump to remove his phlegm. Much as we tried to take care of him at home, I think that the nursing home is better for him, being able to provide 24 hr proper nursing care. Fortunately for us, my fil still has some savings which we could use for his care.
I’m sure that with the ageing population, many families are faced with the same problem of caring for the elderly and each had to work out their own arrangement. It is emotionally draining when you are helpless to the situation you are facing and worse still, when you had to deal with conflicting opinions on how best to care for that person, esp when he/she happens to be under your care. It is also financially taxing, esp if the care is going to be long term.
My mother, who is 80, lives by herself but she had a back operation a few years back and her legs are weak. I dread to think of her outcome should she need nursing care as her savings are limited and my siblings are not so well-off.
From CSFM Member, Angeline, OLL