My mom (84) has been going steadily downhill for the past few months. She has had 3 UTIs which landed her in the hospital and today her aide called to tell me there is blood in her urine again. (UTIs due to massive kidney stone that requires surgery, but she is never well enough to have the surgery). I have a constant knot in my stomach and am constantly fielding calls from doctors, nurses, insurance, etc. (She is at home with 24/7 care, in a wheelchair or bed all day.) I have been at my company for 7 years, but recently took on a new position that feels like a brand-new job. I have a new boss and there is TONS of work and things for me to learn. I did tell my boss that my mom has been ill and she was understanding, but, still, I am SO stressed out trying to keep up with everything. I'm an only child, so I'm it as far as managing my mother's care. WTF do you do in this situation? I am wrung out.
It concerns me that she is completely uninterested in food lately and sleeping a lot too. I think these UTIs wear her out. Sigh...
I think I found one for that hospital online, but it may have been sent to me.
You might ask if a discharge planner, social worker (often the same role) can get the forms for you, or the next time you visit, go to medical records and get the form, and complete it then and there. The issue would be whether or not it's available in that department, but I don't see why they couldn't access it on hospital computers now that literally everything is computerized.
I don't know what you do for a living, but talk to your boss; most employers understand these types of situations. Can you alternate your schedule, do some work from home, or possibly hire an intern or a volunteer to help at work. That way - if you need to focus on mom you can and the work is still getting done.
Then a good friend of mine, who had gone through a similar situation, told me "You have to look at your different duties and responsibilities as roles in a movie. when you leave one, like caregiver, you have to step out of that set, and put on the costume for the next role, employee. When the garage door closes, you consciously leave that life behind and take the drive as down time, a void, where nothing else matters, until you arrive at work. Then you are the employee, and you have decided to be nothing else, but an excellent employee. When the bell chimes and it's time to leave, you put on your errand girl outfit ... use your travel time, however short it is, as down time again to refresh your brain. This may be the ONLY time you have for yourself. Use it wisely and most effectively.
Best wishes.
You are so right about playing roles. I wake up every morning wanting desperately to stay in bed, but I know that would only make me feel worse. So I get myself into my work "costume," and do my best to act like a functional employee. Then I get home and fall apart, and on it goes.