She's physically disabled and slightly mentally disabled (number processing and some mild memory issues). She wants to get a job, but I don't want that to affect her Medicaid since I worked so damn hard to get it and it covers all her medical, eye, and dental bills. I asked her if she would rather volunteer somewhere to make a real difference since she has the financial capacity to do so. She said whatever as long as she has something meaningful to do.
So what would be a good option for my mom who needs help going to the bathroom and walking/transferring to wheelchair?
In my dream world, she'd go to an adult day center so they could care for her daily needs but she could help the nurses and aids out by helping the really old folks with puzzles, games, activities, etc. My mom owned an assisted living in her hay day, so she'd be so good at helping the old folks at the adult day center while still receiving care. Originally she wouldn't go because she didn't want to feel like she was at day care, but if the workers there could get her involved maybe my mom wouldn't feel like she was babysat??
What have you done for your loved ones who are still "all there" but are too disabled for a normal job??
I would address them, write a little note, and the activities director would 'help' my mom deliver the mail everyday. They had a name tag made for her, and she was thrilled.
Not only did she have something to look forward to every day but she got to know everyone else on the unit, and vice versa, and everyone loved getting a card. It was a game changer.
I used to visit the mother of one of my good friends in her nursing home. She would always ask me, in very serious way, if I knew if anyone who was hiring. She asked this before she went to the facility as well. I couldn't figure out just how she planned to work, since she was bound to a wheelchair and not able to care for herself. Later, I discovered that she was totally not able to work a job, (she had dementia) but, her mind was set on it and she would not give up on working again one day. I always took her crossword puzzles, and even if she couldn't do them anymore, she loved to get them.
When, my LO was in regular AL, the social director of the facility, would ask her to help out with handing out papers, keeping scores, etc. for their activities, in order to make her feel needed. I thought it was nice and it did help for awhile.
I hope you find some activities for your mother. Does she have a church that might help? Would she be able to cut out newspaper articles or coupons for others or for her church.
I saw a story on our local news that really inspired me. This senior gentleman VOLUNTEERED, to call everyone that he knew, (mainly church members) on their birthday and sang them Happy Birthday. It kept him pretty busy as he kept a log and he did this for many years! Everyone just LOVED it!
The arrangement she made with the staff is he would be given tasks (I forgot what his profession had been) that he was able to do. At the end of the day he would be given an envelope with cash in it. (My friend had given the envelope to the staff earlier in the morning.) He would take his "pay" and eventually my friend would get it back and give the same envelope to the staff the next time he was there. I think he was there 3 days a week.
As short staffed as some Memory Care facilities are you could check to see if they have a Day Care and she could help out as well as being tended to when she needed it. But any Adult Day Care would probably love to see someone so involved.
You had a good idea with this. I always thought my sister-in-law should have volunteered at a facility. She is mentally challenged but was always so wonderful with the elderly.
The cost is generally reasonable and your mom would get the assistance she needs for transfers and help out with the others. The day center that my mil goes to is in a facility but there are also those that come for the day.
We explained to her, as she does have dementia, that some need more help and some will be great for conversation, which is what she desires most.
I don't know, to be honest, where else your mom could get the care she needs with the experience she wants. I say go for it!
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