I created this post to share with a cousin who cares for my Aunt who is same age as my mother-in-law. Aunty recently has had some major events and I wanted him to see these things in case they could be helpful for her. My own mother who will be 97 this year is in a beautiful facility in the Seattle area and I take my MIL with me to visit each summer. Of course, we were visiting through the sliding glass doors of the physical therapy room due to the virus so it wasn’t the same, but still was good to see her.
These are the things we have for my MIL who will be 95 in May, ramp, light weight wheel chair, transfer belt that is too big yet is the smallest made so I use the blue handles instead, walker, grab bars in bathroom 
and bench to sit on in and out of tub, shower wand, handles over toilet, commode next to a bed (that has adjustable head incline). If I cannot get her up myself I can call 911 and paramedics will respond to help. So far that hasn’t been necessary but I’m not getting any stronger and we weigh about the same, she a little heavier. I also have a combination walker-wheel chair in our vehicle for use on outings because she won’t walk very far any more without wanting to sit down.
Many of these items can be rented or borrowed from your local senior services agency.
I suffer from arthritis in all my joints so too much lifting is very painful for me and I use all the aids I can employ. I was also attending a local support group until the virus curtailed my/our outings.
She really has to keep her hands busy or she will pick at her skin, particularly her hands and chew on her fingernails and fingers causing sores that can become infected. I use the polish that tastes terrible but even that won’t stop her since, apparently, taste isn’t as good as it once was. She’s also had a couple of mini strokes and we’ve witnessed a huge decline and an amazing recovery – near 100% of her pre-stroke capabilities that occurred over a month period.
We recently watched this documentary and it was fabulous. I’m surprised I’ve been in a support group in person and online and never heard of it. Ted found it and checked it out from the library. Alive Inside – Trailer
Here is another video clip of Harry (pictured below) from the documentary that went viral in 2014 when it was released. If you want to see any of these photos larger just click on them.
