Hello all,

I'm SO GLAD I found this board!

I am 51, and also have bipolar disorder. I'd been stable this past year. Mom is 94, uses a 4 wheeled walker, has her mind, but hearing is shot, and has 1 hearing aid due to a dog eating the other one.

Mom moved to Tx with my niece and her husband in 02. They got a divorce in December. Niece was moving to Arkansas, and Mom didn't want to go. I talked her into moving in with me. I went out and moved her stuff Dec 29th. I gave her the master bedroom, since I know she gets up in the middle of the night, and I don't. She needed it worse than I do.

I live alone, so it was no problem. Since I'm on disability, we all knew it was the best choice beside assisted living or nursing home. I had all day to care for her. Honestly all I was doing all day anyway was surfing the internet. Having her here has really been a blessing to me, and she's getting used to the "me on medication" which is a lot different than the brat she raised!

Mom adopted me and raised me as her own. We've always been real close. When she moved to Tx in 02, it really threw me for a loop.

I've felt so blessed to have her here close again! We're bonding again, after that 6 year separation when she moved to Tx. I really didn't think she'd ever come back home after moving out there at 89 years old.

Crisis city hit this last week with us, but beside that honestly her moving in with me has been the best thing that happened to me in years!

I know we'll get through this. As she's only been here 6 weeks now. We're still in the getting used to living together again stage now.

Mom raised a lot of kids. My brothers friends stayed with us a lot too. I barely remember a time where we didn't have "extras" around the house. She raised my niece too.

There is a lot I really need to learn about caregiving and dealing with her now. I've certainly found that out this week. All this is so new to me. It used to be just me and the 4 legged fur babies that behave and do as they are told, lol.

I had no idea it could possibly be this hard till this past week. I obviously have a LOT to learn.

So glad I found this website. A friend from another board gave me the link.

bnot, is there an office for the same hearing aid company within reasonable distance? and, Does your Mom still have her receipt? Many of these companies have a 1 year total replacement policy. Even if not, you will be able to replace only one and it will match.

It is worth a look and a call to the niece if that was where she got them. I wish you luck.

Bobcat, I've sure learned the dog she brought with her will eat anything not tied down, and if its tied down, he'll eat the rope too.

We've had bottom dentures disappear 2 times on her, and one time on me. Hers wound up in MY bed somehow. I think one of the 3 dogs decided when she coughed it out that night, they'd put it where I could find it.

We now know any dentures that come out of the mouth, more than 2 minutes, go in the soaking bath.

She certainly knows where to put her "one" hearing aid at night. Learned that one the hard way. The dog that ate it in TX, came with her to help her adjust here.

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome. Since this one section was under the dimentia and alheimers section, thats why I couldn't find it. Mom has neither.

As soon as we get her well, I hope to make a hearing appointment with a hearing aid place. I told her we can use my inheritance, it'd be WELL worth her hearing again. I still don't think I should be having to talk this loud (close to shouting) for her to hear me.

Bnot, with the love you have for your mom , you will learn what nees to be learned, apply the knowledge and do a great job.
When we have a loved one who was so strong and able to do what needed to bedone, it is hard to accept the changes that happen.We wonder how can you have done so much and then unable to be so dependent on another.
What we remember it is not the person that causes this change, it is these horrible diseases.It is hard to deal with the dependencies but with your love, you will find the way.
Your mom has a big heart .She set a good example for her family.Now you can learn by remembering how she did it all.Number one, love in her heart.
That song I have got Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart to stay

Hi Brenda, we all have a lot to learn. What a great Mom!! Just make sure you have a secure, furbaby proof place for her STUFF. I think we know about their stuff