It seems like every time mom’s laid up in the hospital is when us 3 boys do something big for her and this time is no different. While mom is in the rehab facility recovering from breaking her femur on a grape (see first of April 2014, blogs for more) we have a chance to go into mom’s place and do some repairs and possible upgrades that otherwise she would not let us do and would pay someone three times as much if not more to have done. Between us we have an engineer, electrician and all of us are jacks of all trades master of none, so we should be able to do some damage. Over the last few months we have started to notice or hear mom gripe about things in the house that she would like to do or she’s stating to hear something here and there so we are taking upon ourselves to go in and take care of everything all at once. Going into the rehab facility mom was carrying a load of depression with her and we’re hoping that when she comes home and see’s everything that it may help her fight her way through it, if not a least she won’t be hearing things.
So on our list of things that need to be replaced, repaired, dumped or upgraded include (but not limited to:
- Clean out fridge of all perishables, then clean fridge top to bottom
- Clean under kitchen sink, “Find source of smell.”
- Smell was from disposal leaking over time and soaking the wood underneath. Previous tenant covered problem with a piece of plywood. Cut out water-soaked board (from leaking disposal) under kitchen sink and replace flooring and disposal.
- Why we’re doing under the sink, pull out dishwasher and check to make sure nothing is leaking here and clean up in process.
- Water all her plants
- Do through cleaning of entire house (to include under couch’s, chairs, bed, craft table, etc).
- Do all wash, include bedding
- Find the problem with her shower, why’s it holding water? Found problem, need new shower.
- Replace mom’s shower (Mobile home, not a common size. Special order need to find mfg.)
-
- While replacing moms bathroom walls need to add (meat) to them so the grabs bars we’re also adding have something to grip to. (Total of four bars being installed, 1 in guest bath and 3 in master bath)
- Replace dripping faucets in both bathrooms. Current ones are 45+ years old.
- Replace toilet in mom’s bathroom to oblong model. Current round one is wrong shape. (Sorry mom)
- OK, so showers out and so is toilet, well might as well replace the linoleum flooring (also 45+ years old).
- Mom’s complained about her kitchen cabinets color for 1-2 years, even found out she purchased paint to handle the project, “Herself.” Taking off doors, drawer fronts, sanding them down and painting her kitchen cabinets.
- Find 95″ Dual Curtain Rods and put up drapes mom purchased four months ago.
- Clean out shed and move holiday items out of side room for her.
- Depending on her leg we may need to rework the stairs up into her place, put this on the “Possible Pending” list.
- Put back the dining room, the 20-30 books mom used to help pull her self across the floor during her 3 hour ordeal. Clean up wrappings from the paramedics and fire department.
As you can see, this is no short list of things that need to get done and what better time then why she’s away and surprise her with it when she gets back. All of us know she will be surprised at first, then she will be upset that we did it, which will lead into trying to make us feel bad and thanking us at the same time. But after what we kept running into when we looked under the surface, there was no way we could allow this to stay how it was. We are about 1/2 way through the process and mom has her four week (estimated 1/2 through therapy) tomorrow, hopefully the doctor doesn’t say she can come home early! There are no cabinet doors in the kitchen, no toilet or shower in the master bedroom and organized tools all over the dining and living room. Every caregiver has some sort of order among the chaos and there is always a plan. We’re hoping to reach ours before mom comes home.
– Richard (Kreisler)
PickYourPain@att.net
iCareTalk.net 