Bob's grandmother-in-law

I too was in a situation where I was overwhelmed. My grandmother-in-law has been the pillar of the family up until last year. She went from working a full-time job to needing help getting in and out of the car. She can’t leave the house alone.

My wife and I visit at least once a week and last time we were there, we noticed a bruise on her head. We asked her what happened. She said she hit her head on a cabinet door she had left open. We both knew better. It turns out that she fell and had to crawl to the phone to call her neighbor. She told her neighbor not to tell anyone, but her neighbor decided to tell us anyway. My grandmother in-law is a very strong lady and sharp as a tack, but her health seems to be getting worse.

When we ask her about her health, she just says “I’m okay.” She doesn’t want us to worry about her, so I suggested Life Alert. As anticipated, she said “I don’t need that.” I knew she would say that so I was prepared. I told her that she was right and that she does not need it, but we do. Knowing that we would worry less if she had it, she agreed. She still won’t let us clean her house or take care of her in any way, but she wears the emergency button at all times and I have her neighbor looking in to make sure she doesn’t take it off.

Bob