Holly's Notes and Condition

Neighbor Barbara Broke Her Hip

The last Monday of April, the 27th, in the mid afternoon, our neighbor and good friend, Marc's mom Barbara was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She is in her early 80's and had fallen and broken her left hip. As if that wasn't enough to contend with, she doesn't remember that she fell, doesn't know where she is or why she is there, as she suffers from Dementia.
She was fortunate that all they had to do was put a pin in to hold it in place, but she had to be taken to an assisted care facility after her surgery, as she wouldn't remember that she needed to be careful of her hip and she doesn't remember to do the physical therapy.
Several years ago, she had broken her right hip and that is what brought her out to CA from her home in NC - was that she needed someone to look after her after that surgery. So for the last several years she has lived with her son and daughter-in-law, our friends.
Her one 'job' that she has been consistent on, is picking up her family's mail from the mailbox. Its her daily exercise and because she doesn't remember that she has already gotten the mail, she will walk down to the mailbox, which is (2) houses away and check several times a day, (7) days a week for the mail.
Marc and his wife Alice have said, "how quiet the house is without Barbara being there with them." It's a difficult time for their family.

posted by Holly @ 9:49 PM