Page 6 - Reedley Exponent 10-4-18 E-edition

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I May Not Know Who You Are
By Julie Pimentel
Special to the Exponent for Palm Village Retirement Community
When my Mom was told by her doctor that she had early stage Dementia, she said to me, “Now there may be a time when I don’t know who you are. But if I ever become a burden for you kids, then I would like youtomovemetoaMem- ory Care Center.” What a gift she gave me.
Mom, at 86 yrs old lived in an apartment for seniors,
with no services, in New York where my brother and sister also lived. My siblings would not ap- prove moving her to a Retirement Community. I did not agree. And as her personality became more aggressive, she resisted a move to Assisted Living as she could no longer make wise decisions for herself.
My sister had breast can- cer so she helped Mom in the afternoons, a part-time caregiver was hired for mornings and my brother would visit every night
(sometimes on snowy roads) around 10 PM to be sure she was okay and ready for bed. Mom insisted on continuing to drive and wore her keys as a bracelet until my sister removed it while Mom slept. Worry was the common element among us, including an- other brother who lived in Colorado. After she died, the neighbors told us they sometimes found her out- side in her pajamas.
She eventually had a minor stroke, was hospi- talized and sedated with a
terrible drug because they didn’t like her behavior. In her sleep she moved her ngers along the beads of her precious rosary.
I traveled to NY, on crutches with a full leg brace as the result of a knee surgery gone wrong. When Mom was discharged from the hospital, as we gath- ered her personal items, we discovered that her rosary beads were gone, probably caught in the bed linen laundry. My sister and I (my brother was in Eu- rope) were able to locate
her to a wonderful Skilled Nursing Dementia Center, similar to Palm Village’s Wiebe Center.
Although Mom was nearly comatose the rst few days, the Center’s care- givers dressed her everyday and moved her recliner to the gathering space so that she could be with others who were active. e adult grandchildren visited and new levels of bonding were created.
On the day of my Mom’s wake, my sister was told her breast cancer was now in her liver. How gracious
God was to bring Mom home before she had to experience the loss of her daughter.
e day I left my Mom, I tearfully walked away, yet with joy because I knew she would receive the lov- ing care she deserved and I wished it had happened many months before in Assisted Living Memory Care.
I had told her I loved her and that she was the best Mom in the world. She opened her eyes and smiled. She knew who I was.
Health
Tamyra Glass, M.D.
Family Practice
Pediatric, Adolescent, and Adult Medical Care in a private of ce setting
&
Fitness
Runs the first week of each month
Call JanieLucio toadvertise
638-2244
Accepting new patients, including Medicare
Call for an appointment today! 559-638-2210
Of ce Location: 1141 I Street • Reedley
Call to Advertise
638-2244
Dr. Amu, M.D. Candice Brantley Magdalena Ruiz M. Iqbal Choudhry,
Pediatrician F.N.P.-C F.N.P.-C
PA-C
Speaks: Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi
Full Family Practice Physical Exams ❦ Women’s Health Pediatrics ❦ Immunizations
Weight Management ❦ Massage Chiropractic ❦ Holistic Health
Stefan Pentschev,
MD
Family Practice for over 40 yrs.
Joanne Beattie,
FNP-C
Family Practice for over 17 yrs. Specializing in depression and anxiety.
Sheri Cooley,
FNP-C
Family Practice. Specializing in Food Allergies, Nutrition and Supplements.
Brianna Edwards,
FNP-C
Family Practice. Specializing in Women’s Health & Pediatrics.
❦ Covered California ❦ Medi-Cal ❦ Medicare ❦ Most Insurance Accepted
Se Habla For Appointment Call (559) 638-0400 Walk-In
Español
Clinic
826 E. Manning Ave. • Reedley
To Advertise call the Exponent 643-2244
213929
215908
13477
016800