Mom

Martha: Hey Charles, how’s it going?

Charles: Hey Martha, I’m good. Just got off work.

Martha: Yeah, I called you earlier, but you didn’t pick up.

Charles: Sorry, I was busy… everything okay?

Martha: Yeah, everything’s fine. Mom’s home now. They brought her back from the hospital a little while ago.

Charles: Okay, I’ll stop by tonight to check on her.

Martha: I also got a call from social services.

Charles: I figured they would.

Martha: Yeah, they basically said we need to figure something out for her…

Martha: She can’t keep living on her own.

Martha: She’s getting really frail, and she needs help.

Martha: This fall was just the beginning…

Charles: Yeah… you’re right.

Martha: We need to decide if we’re going to take care of her ourselves or put her in a home.

Charles: What about hiring someone to stay with her?

Martha: Well… I don’t like that idea… social services doesn’t recommend it either…

Martha: It’s basically hiring someone to be with her 24/7… and it’s hard to find someone who not only wants the job but will treat her the way she deserves.

Charles: Yeah…

Charles: You know I can’t take care of her… I’m barely home… I work late every day, and then I still have stuff to do when I get home.

Charles: If she stayed at my place for a while, I’d still have to hire someone to take care of her when I’m not there… which would be all day.

Martha: Yeah, but still… it’s not the same… you could at least be with her at night.

Charles: Not really… I’m up at 5:30 AM and out the door by 6…

Charles: It’s just not doable for me…

Martha: We need to figure something out.

Charles: I don’t see any other option besides a nursing home… or you taking care of her.