Thread: It's my time to take care of dad

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Originally Posted by mopar34

A BIG hat's off to you Dave! What a wonderful thing to do!! That is nearly unheard of in these busy times, but reaching out for our fellow man, especially those who are ill or incapacitated is truly an unselfish act, and I am sure well rewarded, as well.

My 19 year old daughter who is a CNA and studying for her BS in Nursing, works in the county nursing home. She actually loves the work and being able to help those who can no longer help themselves. She sees the good and the bad of that life. She actually prefers working the Alzheimers unit.

Not that big a deal. We started doing it when one of the gang was in the nursing home convalescing from an operation.... Once he got healed up and moved home we just decided to keep doing it... Just a bunch of geezers with nothing better to do.... Usually I just tell people I'm up there trying to pick out a nice room for myself~!!!!!!!!!!

Ya know Dave, you have given me an idea. I think I am going to approach one of the local retirement homes and see if they would like it if some Saturday I rounded up a bunch of old car guys and had a little car show at their place, just for the residents. I bet they would love seeing all the old cars and telling us stories about how "I had one just like that.........except it wasn't red, and didn't have a blower sticking out of the hood! ) I am going to look into that and approach my old car club to see if some of them want to go.

Funny story about the retirement homes...........my Ex-GF and I would go to the home where her Mom lived and have dinner with her sometimes, and when I was there lots of the old ladies were hitting on me! I guess the women outlive us guys, so the ratio is not in their favor. I'd be walking through and one of them would reach up and pinch my butt and the others would all start to cackle. I told my GF that when I got older I was going to move in there and become the Don Juan of the geriatric set.

Don

Just wanted to say hat's off to all you guys. This thread really opened my eyes and my feelings. on a good note went home early sarted talking to my dad. He has dementia and alzeimers is sarting in. Any way we sarted talking about when he was in navy I remembered he gave me some old photos that are in a leather case. They were of ports he was at during war and the light cruser he seved on. Wow I tell you that was the best 3 hours I have spent with him in a long time. He was really talking it up pictures really helped great stories and checked on dates he was saying flipped picture over memory right on. even had old news paper articles and a picture of old biplane's 5 that were based on his ship he was a radio man. were going for a beer later this afternoon will be fun. again thank you all for the support.

Coooooooooooooooooooool!!!!! Have a cold one for us. You will have no idea how much he will remember this day.


Don

Ya know what guys, all it takes is an hour or two once in awhile for a visit with folks in a retirement home.... It means the world to them, and I've got to selfishly say I think it makes me feel even better then the people you visit...... For me it comes from lessons learned as a kid....Respect your elders.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Ya know Dave, you have given me an idea. I think I am going to approach one of the local retirement homes and see if they would like it if some Saturday I rounded up a bunch of old car guys and had a little car show at their place, just for the residents. I bet they would love seeing all the old cars and telling us stories about how "I had one just like that.........except it wasn't red, and didn't have a blower sticking out of the hood! ) I am going to look into that and approach my old car club to see if some of them want to go.

Funny story about the retirement homes...........my Ex-GF and I would go to the home where her Mom lived and have dinner with her sometimes, and when I was there lots of the old ladies were hitting on me! I guess the women outlive us guys, so the ratio is not in their favor. I'd be walking through and one of them would reach up and pinch my butt and the others would all start to cackle. I told my GF that when I got older I was going to move in there and become the Don Juan of the geriatric set.

Don

our local club does that a couple times a year at both the homes here in town. Started out years ago when one of the guys in the club had his Father living at one.... Hope it continues when I move in!!!!!!

Yeah Dave, you KNOW you and I will be the guys driving the "slightly modified" wheelchairs! I've been sizing up some 5 hp Briggs and Straton motors "just in case."

Don

Hey Mark, I was in a relationship that ended in 1999. Well, Mom & Dad told me I could come & live with them until I got things together again {as they'd done many times in the past!}. After I'd been there for awhile Dad asked me if I'd stay & help out cuz my Mom had Parkinson's & I said "yes". Mom passed away in Febuary of '06 & I'm still here helping my Dad. He'll be 91 in June & he's actually in good health {other than back pains, high blood pressure & some of the other 'stuff' that always seem to bother older folks}.... So I know what it's like. Your doing a good thing! Keep it up! Bill

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Yeah Dave, you KNOW you and I will be the guys driving the "slightly modified" wheelchairs! I've been sizing up some 5 hp Briggs and Straton motors "just in case."

Don

Well, if you're lookin' at a 5 horse Briggs, I'd better start lookin' for a 7.5!!!!

The car club that I used to belong to has been doing a show every August at a senior center. They have a big turn out from other rodders in the area and the show is a big hit with all of the people at the center.

I have to be careful using that tag "senior" now since I now qualify for that category at most places. Just hard to believe that I'm there already.

Mark
This may be a time you later look back and say thank god we did that then. My Mom had terminal cancer and was ready to check into a hospital to die. She didn't want to be a bother to any family members. My middle brother and I went part time at work and I would spend 4 days a week with mom, then my brother Mike would come down and spend the next three days with her. This way she was allowed to die at home surrounded by those who loved her. It was 12 years ago now, but it still brings tears to my eyes writing this. She was a great woman. The six weeks we spent with her were eye opening. She told me stories I'd never had heard before. When she died, I never felt that there was anything else I could have done. I had no regrets! At the time I was just married for a few months, and our finances were tight, but my wife was totaly supportive. It's the right thing to do, and like you've said, you have already had some good times!