Another Thanksgiving bites the dust: UPDATE post 65

[Disney Doll]

Just wanted to add that most hospitals and many churches offer caregiver support groups. They have regular meetings, I think as often as once a week at most places.
PS- I would just bring the catered dinner w/ me as a "suprise", who doesn't love leftovers if ther's too much food?..

My gues si that she is not thinking she needs any support and to suggest that would be taken as "you don't think I'm doing a good job".

 

[hentob]

My heart broke. I'm buying him a typewriter.

A typewriter sounds great, but there are so many more up-to-date devices for the non-verbal folks out there.

Get him a social worker and then see if he qualifies for a communication device What about a dynavox?

That poor man Nobody should sit in silence if they are able to communicate in another manner.

As for T-Giving--Seems like it would benefit EVERYONE to get out to Cracker Barrel SOmetimes just getting the elderly getting ready to go out is half the battle. Once everyone is out and about, surely it will be a lovely time.

Good luck to you We are moving to the Triad in 6 short months. I will miss my big, fun family around these holiday times. You have me a little sad after reading your posts

But now I know where we might eat next year

 

[KirstenB]

A typewriter sounds great, but there are so many more up-to-date devices for the non-verbal folks out there.

Get him a social worker and then see if he qualifies for a communication device What about a dynavox?

That poor man Nobody should sit in silence if they are able to communicate in another manner.

As for T-Giving--Seems like it would benefit EVERYONE to get out to Cracker Barrel SOmetimes just getting the elderly getting ready to go out is half the battle. Once everyone is out and about, surely it will be a lovely time.

Good luck to you We are moving to the Triad in 6 short months. I will miss my big, fun family around these holiday times. You have me a little sad after reading your posts

But now I know where we might eat next year

I was going to suggest asking a professional, maybe a speech therapist, what type of communicative assistance is going to work best for him, so I completely agree with hentob.

 

[Jennasis]

He sees a speech therapist, an OT and a PT every week, and I understand that he has ceased making any progress for the better part of a year now (methinks depression is got a hand in it)....but he continues to get the services. He DID have a speech device (we called it the "speak and spell" but it has a fancy techno name). You could type in what you wanted to say and the device would say it for you, or you could press a picture of common phrases like (hungry, tired, hurt, bathroom) and it would say those phrases for you.

He wouldn't use it. It was a very basic machine, but maybe he felt overwhelmed or intimidated by the technology? Maybe a typewriter is more familiar?

I found (this time last year) a support group for adult caregivers that was being offered through our doctor's office. I grabbed the flyer from the dr.'s and rushed over to her place with it, only to be told she "doesn't need that. It's just a bunch of strangers sitting in a room winging about their problems."

Just so you know guys, PLEASE don't feel you can't make suggestions about how to help her out in any way. Just because SHE won't accept the help (and we've suggested it all) doesn't mean I won't. If there is an idea untapped, I'm all for it! Also, you guys making suggestions, particularly the ones I've already been through with her, helps to reinforce that I wasn't crazy, out-of-line or stupid for making the suggestion in the first place.

 

[Jennasis]

An update for those who are keeping track:

If anyone was wondering about our plans for tomorrow...we ordered a few key items and MIL is making a few things. Turkey and stuffing were ordered, pies and dessets were bought. MIL is making sweet potato casserole (I don't eat that anyway, but DH likes her version), mashed potatoes (can't mess that up!) and corn.

They liked my idea of bringing King Kong and Mighty Joe Young over to have on.

I picked up a typewriter for my grandfather-in-law. We're going to give it to him tomorrow as an early Christmas gift, this way if he doesn't like it or finds it to be too difficult, we can try a different model. It's an electric one (Smith-Corona). We thought an old standard typewriter might be too difficult for him to push the keys. Keep your fingers crossed! If nothing else, I hope that the gift makes him feel loved, understood.

 

[dogodisney]

I just found this thread. I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Sounds like everyone should be happy with the plan.
As far as your GFIL and not wanting to use the voice machine (for lack of a better term), it may have been because he felt like a baby using it. My dad had a massive stroke and there we some things that the therapists wanted him to do but he refused saying those things were things his grandchildren did.

I hope the typewriter works out (for all your sake).