I've watched my father in law decline in hies late 80 ' s. He has limited mental capacity at this point.
Basically he's being ware housed waiting to die.

My room mates over the last few days have been 85 and 96.
I have desire or interest to interact with either of them.
Both were accomplished professionals during their careers. I know this because they have been willing to tell anyone who will listen.
Now I just see wizened, old, self-centered, selfish has-beens struggling to regain their lost court.
Both have been colossal, pains in the ass to the medical staff.

I will never get old. I have no desire to become like these leaches on society.
Perhaps I'm just a bit grumpy from listening to this guy bitch all night about getting a private room.
I'm not here as a vacation and really needed the sleep.

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but guess what? You're already old. Ask any kid if you don't believe me.

Age is relative and entropy always wins.

fltsfshr

 

There's old and then there is oooolllddddd.
I don't want to be in over that edge.
I've often thought of building a difficult puzzle/quiz mechanism.
I'd do the same test everyday. When The day comes that I can't pass the test in the allotted time, go dig the hole next to ol' yellar and put me down.

 

That stinks. It's bad enough having to be in the hospital, but having to endure a couple of cranky coprolites in the process is the worst.
My mother-in-law's last roommate was one of them. In addition to her abysmal personality, she also liked to lounge around the hospital room in the nude. There's nothing quite like being trapped in a room with three hundred plus pounds of naked, corpulent decrepitude.
I refused to visit my mother-in-law for the five days she was there. And I don't feel guilty about it. Not one whit.

 

Ouch. I hope your stay there is no longer than it absolutely must be to accomplish what you need.

 

I feel the same way, Jerry. I have given my wife several signs to watch for. During SF I found the perfect way to end it all. I'll just guzzle a bottle of that honey bourbon.

 

Jerry, I'm a bit confused. Are you saying your father-in-law's room mates are these two guys? You are talking about where he lives, correct?

My dad was in assisted living until he fell too often and he had to move into the dementia unit down the hall, that had more supervision. In both areas at the facility, he had his own room. I would visit him during meals. We never stayed in his room, unless I had to shower him. (That sucked.) I visited him when he knew I was there, but barely went to see him when no light bulb came on, the last couple of months. I had a different experience than you. It was mostly women in there and they weren't too much to bear. It's a bummer to see them all losing their marbles or just sitting and staring.

I think about how I will go. Will it be like my dad, from Alzheimer's? Will it be like my mom, with a stroke or heart attack, dead in bed? Maybe a horrible car wreck or cancer. There's no knowing. All I can do it enjoy my life now. I think the other side is better.

 

Remember, you're only young once......................but you're never to old to be immature (i.e. act like a kid).

 

Jerry. Two words. PRIVATE ROOM. Are they not available, from your post it sounds like your room mate was wanting one.

I know you're not on vacation, and it's not a fun way to spend $ but a private room in the hospital is worth every penny.

Hope you are out of there soon.

 

Lainey, is Jerry in the hospital?

Private rooms are not always available. Where I volunteer, the hospital is currently changing over to private rooms but they were the exception, not the rule, before this year.