Community Chat

[Vivian]

Two weeks ago my 89 year old mother tripped over her vacuum cleaner and broke her shoulder. After surgery plus a few days in the hospital and rehab, we brought her home. We have hired a very nice aide from a recommended agency to stay with Mom as she recuperates. Nurses and physical therapists will come to the home but here's my problem: my mother does not want to spend any money on the safety changes and care requirements that must be made. The visiting nurse told us what to do and we did everything but Mom denies the need. Fortunately my mother has the money to pay for her care and we were happy to spend our money on the house repairs, which really needed to be done years ago but which Mom refused to do. Now she has no choice but has fought over every single penny that she or my husband and I have spent. Her excuse is that she can't help her cheapness since she is from the Depression generation. I have tried calmly to explain why she must take the advice of the care experts so that she is safe and so she can remain in her home. She thinks everyone is over-reacting. I think she is in denial. Her house has been an accident waiting to happen for years and now it HAS happened. Mom is sharp as a tack but is so cheap her wallet squeaks. What can I do?