Abstract
Time spent with mum was always interesting: you never knew what would be thrown into the conversation. Mum tells us she is regularly called into work, though they don’t pay her anything; she often goes around to the shops, though they are usually closed; and she regularly has phone calls (though she doesn’t have a 'phone) and lots of visitors ringing her doorbell (which she does not have).
The nurses advised us that all the doctors agreed Mum would not be able to go home; we would need to place her into an aged care home. We became exposed to the world of ACAT’s and aged care.
One of the things I struggled with was not being able to pick up the 'phone, ring Mum and say hello. We had been so close over the years and always stayed in touch, either by 'phone or in person.
It was the hardest thing to leave her. Was this going to be the last time I was to say, "Love you, Mum"? I didn’t want her to see me upset, so it was a case of trying to keep a brave face with her and then once I was out the door, letting the tears flow.
The nurses advised us that all the doctors agreed Mum would not be able to go home; we would need to place her into an aged care home. We became exposed to the world of ACAT’s and aged care.
One of the things I struggled with was not being able to pick up the 'phone, ring Mum and say hello. We had been so close over the years and always stayed in touch, either by 'phone or in person.
It was the hardest thing to leave her. Was this going to be the last time I was to say, "Love you, Mum"? I didn’t want her to see me upset, so it was a case of trying to keep a brave face with her and then once I was out the door, letting the tears flow.