Family Issues? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Tony and Eileen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Family Issues?

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

The advantage of the RV is that you can go where you are needed when you are needed. With a good cell phone package you can be reachable with in the day if not in a few minutes. Thank goodnees we don't have immediate issues with elderly parents but we could at any time. We do have a teenage daughter that can't always go with us and a cell phone works great when she stays with friends or family. It gives all of us including her to have the peace of mind that we are only a call and possibly a few hours of travel away.

Thanks,

Larry

Tony and Eileen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for your response Larry and we definitely have cell phones and our truck has On Star which is pretty reliable too. I have even said to my husband that if necessary one of us could fly home if we were to far away and an emergency came up.

We both feel blessed to still have our Mother's here, but to take any kind of extended trip makes me feel a bit guilty to leave, especially my Mom. I don't want to make any waves in the family due to us wanting to travel now that we're retired. My sister is not retired, her choice, and my niece has small children.

Thanks again,

Eileen

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

My father passed peacefully yesterday, 7 days short of his 98th birthday. He had beenin a nursing home in Arizona and in and out of hospice for 3 years.

We just started training in our new workamping job in Elma, WA yesterday also. As soon as we heard we went to our new bosses and said as soon as we get final details we'll need to fly to AZ for his memorial service. They were incredibly awesome, caring and supportive. We'll leave our rig here and hire a fellow host aka pet lover to care for the fur kids for our brief 5 day trip.

Families can be complicated, never heard from his wife of 4 years but were notified by a friend of Dads. Yup, guilt is an issue and I've had years to grieve him already.

Sherry

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry sorry to hear about your loss.

Although we are part timers most of the year. We do setup for 3 months at an RV Resort about 2 hours away from our home. My DW stays in the RV and I get to visit her on weekends. My 94 year old Dad who is wheelchair bound and has dementia lives with us. When we go out in the RV he goes with us. He has always enjoyed camping and had an RV until he was 84.

I have installed a lift on the side of our 5th wheel to get him and his wheelchair inside the RV. I use a Hoyer Patient lift to get him inside the truck for travel.

During the week while I am at work he goes to a city run Adult Day Care center just a mile away from my office. He gets lots of attention from the caregivers and socializes with the other seniors.

Our favorite activity when at the RV park is to take Dad for a walk. We have two mobility scooters, we put him in his wheelchair between the scooters, each of us grab on to the wheelchair with one arm and take him for a ride. He always has a big smile on his face and waves at the other RV'ers as we go by.

telco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our club has an annual rally and one guy for the lats 3 years has bought his aunt who was 103 at last years. We gave her an honorary membership.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry - sorry for your loss.

nightsky · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry, my sincerest condolences on the loss of your father.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry - sorry for your loss. We just went through this with Diane's father and many years ago with mine. It is never easy.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you all. Bear II, love your story about Dad in his wheel chair between two scooters and Telco, I love the member who brings his 103 year old aunt.

One of our favorite stories with my Dad is we busted him our of his house last spring and packed a lunch and took him for a ride on Schnebly Hill Rd. off of Interstate 17 near Flagstaff down to approach Sedona from the top. Gorgeous views. It's an awesome drive but VERY bumpy. I sat in the backseat and held Dad's thin shoulders as he was bouncing around so much I was afraid he'd bounce out but had a big grin on his face. Stopped at an overlook for lunch and he absolutely loved the outing.

Bless you all caring for parents and relatives and bless you for your caring comments.

Sherry

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry for your loss Sherry :(

My father passed about 2 months ago after a couple year battle with cancer. One of the greatest benefits of this lifestyle is really being able to be there. We just grabbed a monthly spot near my parents, and stayed for as long as needed helping with care taking and soaking in the quality time. No worries about a lawn back home to keep tended to, pet sitters or risking losing a job for being out too much. All and all, we spent 8 glorious months nearby my father in his last days (plus lots of time during his initial diagnosis and treatments).. time I will never ever regret.

And then we were able to help my mom transition to her new life as a widow. We're hoping she'll now come out and join us at locations across the lands.

We also integrate in lots of quality time with family members spread across the country - who if we lived a stationary lifestyle we would only seldomnly see for short bits of holiday visits. And when it comes time to move in and help any of them.. we'll be there.

- Cherie

heartofcarrot · RV-Dreams Community Member

Sherry-Sorry for your loss. You and your family are in our thoughts.

Eileen, we had to put my Mother in an assisted living home Feb. 2012. I became her POA and MOA, even though my sister lives about four blocks from her. If the home needs to send me paper work to sign, they email it to me in pdf form. They call when there are changes in my Mother's orders or there are any incidents. It is not an easy job handling all of her banking, doctors, etc...but it can be done.

Happy Trails!

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cherie, I've followed your blog on your father and "taking him to Montana" as well, beautiful story and well told.

Bless all you caretakers, full and part-time, out there in RV land. My admiration for you all just continues to grow. 😄

Sherry

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry for your loss

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry, sorry for your loss. And to all you caregivers out there past and present -- big hugs! It's a huge job and labor of love. My big brother and sis-in-law ended up shouldering most of the caregiver responsibilities for our mom. I was their support when they wanted to pull their hair out.