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LifeAlert or similar systems?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DavidatpMOD on
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Thanks for the post. I'm in a similar situation with my parents. We've tried to talk my mom into getting something like lifealert but she doesn't seem to be receptive to it. I'm interested to see replies to your question. Good luck, God bless and keep the faith...
David
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Permalink Reply by GADawg/MOD on -
Hi David, I did some research yesterday, and it's overwhelming! There are probably a dozen different systems and they're all different. I can't seem to find an objective testing or comparison of them all. I hope someone chimes in with their experience so I can make heads or tails of all this! :)
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Permalink Reply by Suzi on -
I know a move may be out of the question, but it helped me in a similar situation. I moved my mother into a great apartment building for people 55yrs. & older. A couple lives there who act as houseparents would for a group home. Each apartment has 3 cords (bathroom, living room & bedroom) that one can pull and a "real" person will show up at the door to offer assistance or call for help. A great part is, rent is set by income, so there are people of all economic levels renting apartments in the well-kept, 3-story building. If a move is possible, you might want to check your town for similar senior living accomodations.
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Permalink Reply by John H MOD on -
Hi Guys and Gals, This is a little bit back in time. In the yrs 1997-99 I was the caregiver to my Mom. She was alone in the house and refused to leave. I guess I feel the same way. Oh well my kids are going to have to deal with me then. Anyway I purchased a life alert for my Mom. It worked really well almost to well.
The most annoying problem was with the medalion or thingy around your neck that you wear. My mom would take it off and lay it down next to her. Which you are not supposed to do because it thinks you have fallen. Life Alert then would call the house first to see if it was a false alarm. If she didn't answer right away then boom all he.. would break loose. They would call the ambulance, police ect and me last. I would rush over not knowing what I was going to find. Usually the ambulance with the EMT's trying to get my mom to go to the hospital. She was fine but they were trained to take the person in. And of course my mom the social woman she was would say sure I'll go. then in the Er for more than 3 hours usually I'd take her home to have it happen all over again. Finally I had to give it back to them. I couldn't keep up with the running around and trying to have a life.
Don't get me wrong in my mom's situation it didn't work but she had dementia and so she wasn't always aware of the connection between the life alert and these nice men and ladies coming to give her a ride. I can laugh now over ten years later but it was really bad then. I would have them come and show you how they work now. It was a tool that with the right person it should work out well. I'm thinking after this time they must have made improvments to them.
God bless, John
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Permalink Reply by GADawg/MOD on
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Hi all, thanks for the replies. My mom has dementia so it actually wouldn't be for her, because I don't think she'd know to press the button. It's for my Dad, who's had 3 heart attacks and is her main caregiver, to wear in case something happens to him- then he'll press the button and emergency services will come and save them both! Glad to know someone's had a good experience with LifeAlert. Any others who've had experiences with any of the other companies, do chime in! Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by mekbride on -
I've not compared lots of systems, but when we had the house redone for entry alerts, I went ahead and got an alert system, around neck, that calls ambulance. It has some nuances but Ive not used yet. Anyway, it's ADT.
Also GADawg, I wanted to let you know that just as I began to explore Alimta further, my CT scans came back alerting all it had stopped working, and now, I'm back on the original drugs I was given with Operation I, Chemo I. They are giving this 18 weeks try, and then what? I don't know. They tell me it's moving into my bones now too, and I don't know a lot about that eihter. Maybe some days I want it that way~!
mekbride
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Permalink Reply by GADawg/MOD on
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Hey mekbride! Thanks for your reply. My mom just took a 3-month break from Alimta after being on it for maintenance for 2 years. Her latest scans show an enlarged nodule in her lung, a possible recurrence in her bones, and an enlarged tumor in her cerebellum. We're waiting on second opinions and then what? I also don't know. I'm sorry your scans weren't good, either. My mom's moved into her bones in 2007- we were so scared! But she had her tumors radiated (2 separate spots, 1 in the spine and 1 in her leg), and her pain subsided and things have been stable with those. It's her brain tumors that won't stop growing and give us a break. Hang in there, and maybe it is better to not fully know everything some days! You know, in your picture, you remind me a lot of my mom- you kind of look alike, and you seem to have the same spirit- not many people I know have a picture with a dolphin! I'm sending a hug your way!
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Permalink Reply by mekbride on
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GADawg - Thank you for your message as it provides insight. My Primary Care Physc was concered about my 3-month break (thought it was MY idea which it was not) and it must have been about that time that all started growing again. I got a scan just before returning and it showed growth but the Oncologist was shocked to find how much it grew during the next 6 month period. What has grown is inoperative and also the bone. They tried radiation where the pain is the worst and it did nothing to reduce size of tumors (or nodules - I don't know the difference).
What now remains is the decision making process "how much is enough" and that's why we set a three-chemo CT - to see if the old chemo is doing anything. I think our plan is sound - otherwise I'll be going thru more and more chemicals that make me sick and then more tests... and then on and on.
We've thought of end of life issues and found out that Hospice won't take a patient unless they are done with all of the above - we've gotten our legal directives done and submitted. Now I'm working on some financial overview things for my husband (we always had role reversal and did what we enjoyed most and this was my area - and the one that concerns me the most after I leave.
I cannot thank you enough for your contact over these months as you continue to be my ONLY Alimta buddie and I've needed your thoughts and experiences, very badly.
And you my friend, are the only cat lover (me too but I'm not able to have one), that dresses her cat to go to the ballet. Beautiful, just beautiful.
Hugs, mekbride
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Permalink Reply by GADawg/MOD on
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Ha! My cat's outfit was actually a Valentine's Day collar, but everyone always thinks it's a clown collar, or in your case, for the ballet! She is beautiful, I have to admit! Thank you!
Well, we are in similar positions. "How far to go, how much is too much?" My mom's dr. suggested her break from chemo- we agreed she was getting worn down but had we known everything was going to explode, we would have never agreed. I think the problem with Alimta is there's not much research on long-term maintenance use- docs are kind of flying blind on using it for maintenance beyond a year. Thank you for the info. on hospice- I wasn't aware of all the precursory steps needed to get them to come in. I feel like we made the biggest mistake taking a break from chemo and the damage is irreversible. I guess we'll just have to play with the cards we're dealt now. Keep me posted on how you're doing!
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Permalink Reply by mekbride on
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I recently talked with LCA about Alimta as it seemed to surprise the doc that it just exploded. There is no information at all about follow up, on their web. LCA called some folks for me and got me some people to ask about it - but then I crashed. Then I got the bad news. But something seems terribly wrong when they are not following this.
My doc put me back on the original drug that reduced and got rid of all tumors the first time. He is only hoping that it might hold them back, but I think it's a timing thing. I had a great year on Alimta, but perhaps that was the problem. They say 'no pain no gain.'
Yes, look into Hospice first thing. we've picked one out, and based on the experience we had with my mom (she was in a hospice that actually housed people after the hospital. She stayed 10 days, got new medication and was then sent home.) But then they came every three days or so. That's what I will get here where we live as there are no in-bed patients. But, they have certain 'demands' and one was a hospital like bed for easy care, and a hospital tray. Rather than rent these, I bought - and I bought a really good bed that has the top and bottom go up and down. So, slowly I'm changing gears for what I know will happen next. My sister and I took care of mom when she came home as they would not allow her to be left alone (or she would be 'kicked out'). Her experience, and what doc said yesterday, was when they give up on the oncology, it's hospice time - but you can research them and prepare early. That's what we are doing.
It's a very sad time, and it came very unexpected. But, I try to focus on the wonderful years I had..... six! Wow~
If you have any questions or anything, don't hesitate to write.
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