Lone Pine Lodge

I have been very poor about posting commenting and replying to comments over much of last year. Real life has been difficult for the family in general mostly because of Auntie N and cousin A. Those who have been my friends for some time know that A is my 70 year old cousin who is sole carer for her 97 year old bed ridden mother. Auntie N was in and out of hospital for most of last year but the crunch came in October when she came out for the last time. Her illnesses had weakened her and she was definitely living in a different world to the rest of us. She slept most of the day and was awake most of the night as a result A was losing a lot of sleep as she had to keep the house running during the day and not getting any sleep at night. Early November A went into meltdown and had hysterics all over the girls that came in daily to bath her mother and change the bedding every morning., by this time she was incontinent as well. we persuaded A that she needed a rest or she would be in need of hospitalisation her self and were able to get Antie N into a nursing home for a month respite care. While Auntie N was in hospital A wanted to visit her every day so Beth and I took turns in taking her and she wanted to do the same when she was in care. We put our feet down firmly on that . By this time Auntie N didn't know where she was or who we were and we did succeed to limiting her to two visits a week. Although she received the best of care Untie N died between Christmas and New Year and a was devastated and we have been very busy since then looking after A and sorting out the funeral and all the other administrative problems that a death throws up. It's all over now and A seems to be settling down  happily with out her mother, she has found that she likes being able to go to bed when she pleases and to get up when she wants. She loves the freedom of just being able to pop to the shops and stop and talk to the neighbours with out having to worrying about getting back quickly to he Mam. She even enjoys being dragged out in all weathers by Beth or me to walk the dogs. I think I can stop worrying about her enough to start up my computer life again.