A Place for Pauline

When the Child Becomes the Parent

Image by Carol Anne Shaw

Last week my 95-year-old mother, Pauline, was admitted into a long term care facility about twenty minutes from my home. She has dementia, hypertension, kidney disease, and in the past year or so, has dwindled to just over 100 pounds.

A fall just after Christmas put her in the hospital. She had been on the floor of her apartment for a few hours…