Aging mother and Solid biking

Farm duck pond

Last weekend, my sister and I faced a challenging task, especially on my mother’s birthday. After my father’s passing, Mom stayed on the farm, but her memory faded, making it unsafe. We worked hard for six months to convince her to move to an aging-in-place facility. She reluctantly agreed.

My sister had completed the final steps, including medical appointments and prescription refills, three days earlier. I woke at 4:30 AM and drove 4.5 hours to pick up the moving truck. With four of us, it took over three hours to load, which was faster than expected. I planned to stay overnight, but drove home to start moving into her new unit.

Unloading took 90 minutes, but unpacking was tougher. We only brought a few newer pieces, like a bed, dressers, and a chair. We needed to track down a love seat, TV stand, microwave cart, end tables, and other essentials.

Adjusting to the new environment could be smoother. Despite being a full-service facility, she prefers her unit and rarely leaves her unit. She’s not interested in socializing and can handle basic self-care but may need assistance. She communicates well but requires clarification and reminders, and tends to be reserved in social situations.

Shelley’s mom went through every stage of Alzheimer’s, especially the tough end when she couldn’t recognize her during visits. I’m preparing for the progression, but at least she’ll be closer to my sister and me—much closer than the 270 miles to the farm!

Since moving her to a partially independent living situation, the stress levels have improved. Now that I visit her more often, I see the effects of her declining mental health. She hardly remembers the day before and doesn’t want to leave her room. Occasionally, she has moments of clarity but doubts their reality. I wait and see what happens next.

Last week, I cycled 100 miles with 3,562 feet of elevation gain, mostly without the e-bike motor. I feel stronger but still sore after each ride, and my ankle pain has worsened. I plan to keep improving.

As mentioned in April, I weighed myself for my 6-month follow-up. I’ve lost weight, but I’m unsure if it’s due to strength gains or a combination of both. I’ll continue to track my intake, reduce stress, and enjoy retirement. Here’s a funny pun: I went to the paint store to get thinner, but it didn’t work!

College football season is here. The NDSU Bison (FCS) play the Colorado Buffaloes (FBS) Thursday night. I’m rooting for the Bison, but it’ll be tough. The Bison have a new coach, and while Colorado seems solid, they’ve had many player changes. They have some NFL-ready players, but it’s about their supporting cast.

Until later - Carry on my friends!