My (audult) daughter

Hi all

Last night my daughter and I discussed my moving from CA to NC sooner rather
than later. She told me that when she and her half-brother were passing a
Senior's Community, he (15YO) said, "Why don't we put your father there so
we could help him?" My daughter said that she was so moved by this she had
to pull off the road and cry, and thank him. I do believe the chances are
good that someday I'll make the move.

For right now though, I've spent a year with new doctors (having just moved
from near San Jose CA to S CA) that it took two or three months to find. And
now that I've spent a year with my new pain doctor, not having asked for
more pills even once. So last month when I went there & told her just how
bad things were for me, she added a new anti-seizure med to my cocktail.
It's made a moderate difference, enough that it does provide maybe 20% more
relief than I was getting before. Part of it is my fault, I've wanted to
believe I was going to get better living in an Assisted Living Facility
(ALF) than has turned out to be the case.

Sadly, regarding the difference between the ALF's brochure, and what really
goes on here, are two very different thing. First there's the fight of
resisting institutionalization and second is that this place is run like any
other profit center. They are always looking for ways to cut expenses, we
used to be able to get our coffee (travel) mugs filled after meals to take
to the courtyard for visiting, reading, &etc. Now they won't do it anymore;
staff continues seeking ways to cut costs. (Anyone whose ever worked in a
factory or at the upper levels of a corporation, or other experiences, will
know that the only thing that matters is the bottom line. Tragically, most
people use the ALF as a kennel for their parents, only this time the "pets"
learn that their owners aren't coming back. At least 80% of those here don't
get any visitors. For those who do have family, when they call their
relatives to complain about the place; staff lies to them about what's going
on, ie grampa is getting up in years and is difficult to work with, and
remember, that's why you put him here. Very few actually come to check, but
for those who do they can effect change.

I've four times now watched, otherwise healthy people (I know because they
told me, and were visibly healthy with agile minds), come here, and die
within three weeks. One was a priest who wanted to finish a book he'd been
working on. That's how destructive institutionalization can be. One day
someone is still at home in the middle of life, family, things to take up
their time, and mainly being a part of something. Coming here is to be
totally picked up from the game board of life and warehoused.

Anyway, I guess I'm rambling having had another poor sleep last night. But I
do want to say thanks to those who've helped and supported me all along. I
don't know how I could manage without you.

BTW, I dropped about 20 neurontin in the kitchen sink today, fortunately I
could retrieve them. (My point being that it does happen sometimes.)

Well, I have many ideas floating around my mind but can't seem to light on
one. So I'll say hello, and best wishes to all.

Grampa Gus


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: My (audult) daughter
    ... Last night my daughter and I discussed my moving from CA to NC sooner ... I've wanted to believe I was going to get better living in an Assisted ... told me, and were visibly healthy with agile minds), come here, and die ... totally picked up from the game board of life and warehoused. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: My (audult) daughter
    ... Last night my daughter and I discussed my moving from CA to NC sooner ... I've wanted to believe I was going to get better living in an Assisted ... told me, and were visibly healthy with agile minds), come here, and die ... totally picked up from the game board of life and warehoused. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: My (audult) daughter
    ... the chances are good that someday I'll make the move. ... told me, and were visibly healthy with agile minds), come here, and die ... totally picked up from the game board of life and warehoused. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: My (audult) daughter
    ... Grampa Gus wrote: ... Last night my daughter and I discussed my moving from CA to NC sooner rather ... told me, and were visibly healthy with agile minds), come here, and die ... totally picked up from the game board of life and warehoused. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: A CATERED AFFAIR
    ... Fierstein and a disciplined cast that its sentiments never for a moment ... Aggie, a Bronx housewife inured to a life of self-denial, scraping to ... but Aggie wants it to pay for a lavish wedding ... Her mother's daughter, pragmatic Janey had decided on a no-frills ...
    (rec.arts.theatre.musicals)