Do you worry about things at home while on vacation?

[Kanga1]

Do you worry about things (people) while your away? My vacation is not until next July and I'm already worrying about leaving my parents for so long. (We'll be gone 2 weeks.) They are elderly but still live at their home and can care for themselves (drive, etc.) but my dad has a very bad heart and my mom is suddenly becoming VERY forgetful. (She had no recollection yesterday of buying DD a Barbie the night before.) I'm worried about leaving them for so long. I have no siblings and no one in town to really keep an eye on them.

Anyone else in this situation?

 

[snugglepeas]

Before my Grandmother died she lived with us and if we went away week would have her go stay with a family member or if that wasn't possible we would ask the couple across the street to check in on her each day.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Always, but i try not to. My dad died in May but the three years before that he was in poor health. One trip we received his diagnosis and prognosis while at WDW (we were standing in front of Figment), Another trip he ended up in the hospital, and one trip we got some bad news about my DN. AGGGG. My mom is not in great health either so leaving her home this past trip was really hard but we STILL GO.

We do our best not to worry and realize that being at home can not prevent things from happening. In reality we stay so busy that worries tend to only come at night!!!

 

[ptcruisermom]

I am going away the end of Jan without my kids and i am kind of worrying about it, but figured this was the year to go as my oldest DS is till at home and dont' know if he will be next year. There is DS 21, DS 17 and DD 13.5/ They are good kids and I can trust them, just worry if something with the house will go wrong, but DS 21 has a level head on him. Their SD doesn't have anything to do with them, but if he knew i was going he would pitch a fit, he tried this when we were first divorced tried to say i was going out of town leaving them alone on the week ends, when he wasn't taking them for visitation. I went to visit friends in MI and took DD with me. I also have my mother 89 to worry about, health is pretty good but at that age you never know, i told her dont' you get sick or die on me, she said you go ahead and go and don't worry about me. I do have 3 brothers and 1 sister, but they rarely visit and they don't live that far away

 

[bigbabyblues]

Haven't really worried about people, but last Feb, DH and I went to WDW without the boys, and I worried about our house. Mainly the pipes in the downstairs bathroom, because it was in the 20's for the highs and single digits at night, and I was afraid the pipes would freeze and burst.

 

[ConnieB]

Are your parents a part of a church? If so, I'd contact the church and ask them to have someone drop in and check on them.

You might also check if there are elder care services in your city/county/state. This would have a fee attached, but it might be worth it for your peace of mind.

I'd also be sure I had my cell phone at all times and that this number was on my parents' refrigerator, or a speed dial on their phone. And then you want to be sure that you have phone numbers in your cell phone for contacting those near your parents' home for whatever the trouble may be (hospitals, doctors, pharmacy, even a jack of all trades repair guy).


Another thought....summer time you'll have a lot of college students home....see if you can find a nursing student, or med student even...who might not mind stopping by to say hello each day for a few dollars. Of course, this is more risky if you don't know the person, but there are ways to do a little background checking on someone, though I'd still not place an ad or something, I'd try to get a neighbor's niece or the mailman's nephew....or even the girlfriend of your co-worker's brother, lol....some personal connection would make me feel better.

Last resort....if you, for instance, try calling home to check on them and they don't answer and you're worried.....you can always call the police and they'll do a well check. It's not considered a high priority unless you have something to make you fear they are in immediate danger....but they'll drive by and ring the bell and check to be sure they're ok and haven't fallen or something. It may take them several hours before their schedule allows this, so it's not the best solution, and I'm sure they won't do it daily. It's really a "I'm very worried and don't know what else to do" solution.

 

[Evi]

funny I dont worry so much about people I worry for my pets. I know I know its just they dont rationalize or understand the way people do. Like I worry that my pet will think I've abandoned him or I dont know what else. Hes really needy or maybe its me lol either way I know I'll worry about him while Im gone.

 

[jenrein]

funny I dont worry so much about people I worry for my pets. I know I know its just they dont rationalize or understand the way people do. Like I worry that my pet will think I've abandoned him or I dont know what else. Hes really needy or maybe its me lol either way I know I'll worry about him while Im gone.

I was just going to say basically the same thing. I hate having to have someone watch my dogs. I feel so sad that they are with some stranger compared to being with me and the family. But I thought I was the only crazy person that thought like that!

 

[Keara'sMom]

We're heading to WDW in January, and our trip is only four days long, in part because I'm worried about my parents! My mom is very ill and the prognosis is uncertain (she's doing quite well right now, though). My folks do have a lot of friends, many of whom have been spending time with them and bringing dinners to share, so I'm not worried on that front, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to my mom while we're away.

That said, our trip is short, and the likelihood of something happening then is remote, so I'm going to try to live for the moment and enjoy my dh and dd10 while in WDW.

Believe me, I understand how you feel!

 

[sweetpeakaris]

I've never really worried about family, not that I don't love them, lol. My worry is more toward my home. I always think I will come home to nothing, fear of my home burning down or something, or burgularized. I even call my home several times a day, just to make sure the phone rings and the machine picks up, I know I'm a nutt case.

 

[grammynelliebelle]

They are not available for short term, but you might want to consider getting them a wearable monitoring device that can be pressed in the event of emergency. These are sometimes available through the American Red Cross and they might have reduced rates depending on their finances. There are also many other companies. Contact your local county Office on Aging for info. Considering your dad's health and your mother's memory issues it might be good to have it for the future. Grammy

 

[noahdove]

I don't worry about home, I figure, if I was at home and something happened to the house, what would I do??? As for my dad, he is elderly but he is in fair health..he can't hear worth beans, but that doesn't stop him from going places, especially in the summer time. If anything would happen to him while I am gone in August, there is nothing I could do, he has all the plans made and everyone knows that there is NO nothing...so, whatever my sister and I would do would be just caring for the house...If you worry about stuff while you are gone, you are wasting valuable happy time....Plus, if you stay home and nothing happens, well....you lost a great time..please go and don't worry...Remember, worry is the devil's tool.....don't let him get the better of you...