Watching My Elderly Mom's Health Decline
Long story short, 2 years ago my (35M) mom was diagnosed with Dementia / Dementia caused Parkinsons (Parkinsonism). She's been somewhat incontinent for a while but it's gotten a lot worse recently as well. Her doctor won't give her a formal diagnosis, but I'm pretty sure is also developing or has Alzheimers.
Two years ago, my mom moved into a 1 bedroom apartment just down the street from me. I've been stopping in 1-3x a week with a meal, stocking groceries/toiletries, change her bedding, and sweep/mop her floors and clean her bathroom. I wish I could pay someone to do this but I can only afford to have a nurse come in 1x a week to bathe and do hygiene with her. (I am an only child, so I am the only family member to carry the burden)
I am increasingly saddened by watching her decline. She struggles to remember my wife and kids names. She struggles to recall previous conversations we have had. She is isolated except when I or family come to visit her. It's just really really sad.
Thankfully, after frequent visits and applications to the state, she FINALLY got qualified for medicaid and she is going into a memory care facility soon because she can no longer live on her own because now she is a high fall risk.
I'm wondering what others have done to make the remaining years with their aging parents special or memorable? I feel like everything surrounding my mom involves pain and negativity and I don't want it to.
Or is the mother that raised me basically gone at this point? Is it time that I just let her go to waste away in this nursing home until one day I get a call that she has finally passed away?
Just not sure where to go from here. Thanks in advance for any thoughtful responses / insights provided.
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