Ah yes, I remember. Mother at home with the dog gradually getting more frail, except if you are there every day you tend not to notice as much as those who only come occasionally. Does that make sense?
Still further down the line the breast cancer, which I must say she seemed to bounce back from with remarkable speed.
Then Dementia, God that one is damn hard work. They see green men climbing up the wall or the little girl who hides behind the sofa and sometimes you can pacify them by saying, ‘it’s your mind playing tricks, you remenber’ and sometimes no matter what you say there is no way to calm them. Still, all part of lifes rich tapestry.
Finally, the fall and hospitalisation, a mini stroke diagnosed but nothing ever conclusively found and then rapid deterioration. All of a sudden she’s going in a nursing home virtually bed bound and at a cost of £35,000 per year.
USEFUL TIP. If you have a relative in a nursing home and they have to fund themselves there may come a time when their condition becomes so bad that the Council have to take over funding. Surprise, surprise, no one will tell you about this, except people who have experienced it themselves. Get your relative assessed try at all costs to save your rightful inheritance, don’t get me started on inheritance tax!!
Well actually, now that I mention it, what an unfair tax Inheritance Tax is. My mothers’ will said she wanted to leave everything to my brother and I, not to fund nursing care. Why on earth should you be penalised for being frugal and saving your money, I’m going to try my best to spend every penny I have, that way there is no question about who’s funding your nursing care.
As usual I have digressed, where was I? Yes four years later my mother having survived on custard and fortified chocolate and strawberry drinks, she finally died. I was surprised she lasted so long as I tried to look after her at home for as long as I could as she always maintained that if she had to go into a nursing home it would be the death of her.
I used to see her every day, in fact, I used to see her every day since my father died twenty one years ago which did very little for my love life. Still, all things come to those who wait.
Shortly after my mother died I ran into an old girlfriend from years ago and it was as if nothing had changed, it was like it was yesterday.
Which in a rather long winded way brings me to the point where I started this blog as we have got together again and I have moved in with her and her children in the country, hence I have become a ruddy faced countryman, perhaps!
More on country life and children, Lord they are strange creatures! Later.