Whether a home bound senior lives in their own home, or a care home, receiving the gift of an adult bib is actually something they not only need, but actually love receiving. And what's even better...others see them, love them, and wish they had one, too!
I've made my own mother at least a dozen of these, but my 96 year old mother-in-law only had one, so after helping her pack up belongings in her home for eight hours yesterday... for transitioning to a small care facility...I was ready for some sewing time in my own home!
We have given her the best we could.. ..day and night care...for two solid months, and we have helped her every day in small amounts, for almost three years...and now she is ready for more intensive care by others. It is sad, and it is hard, but it was also time.
In Oregon, we have options for extended care, whereas in Alaska we had none with my mom... who we still care for in her own home, 24 hours a day, with her advanced Alzheimer's. It's all hard, but we do the best we can by taking our turns with staying there.
As challenging as the last two months have been with my MIL (especially for my husband who has spent all but four of the last months worth of nights with her) we do not regret all of the care giving, living in time with her, or how exhausted we all are. It is simply what I choose to do, and what my husband has also felt, and honored. But it is not something that most people can physically, or emotionally do. Care taking of an adult who make not even be able to walk is very challenging, trust me. We all have to do what we feel works the best for everyone involved. And all of us have our own personal abilities and our own personal limits, as well.
But now, my MIL is in another major life transition and with Valentine's Day on Tuesday, and knowing she would need even more support and love, I decided that Dorothy needed a new senior bib! Sso out came the fabrics, the lace, and some velcro closures, and in a couple of hours ..searching for fabric to finishing it....I had it made.
I know she will love it and it will help make the transition from independence to needing care from others outside of our family a little more cheerful, at least! And I'm secretly hoping that the other 3 little old ladies will be jealous and my MIL will feel extra special ;) But then, of course, I'm guessing I may have to just make 3 more for them, too :)
I love holiday sewing of any kind and with less time to quilt, I make sure to make more time for simple sewing. It is fun and creative for me and is a wonderful outlet for stress!
Tutorial and Pattern:
Making an Adult Bib
Adult Bibs
Our Velveteen Rabbit
Michele Bilyeu Quilts With Heart and Hands for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) Join in my Liberated Quilting Challenge...and buy or donate a quilt, today!! We are changing the world...one little quilt at a time.
11 comments:
It is a very difficult move, I know...we went through it last year with my 95 yr old mother.
What a sweet and thoughtful gift..I am sure everyone will want one now!!
Sending hugs and love....
at our guild meeting this month we made 21 lap quilts (and there are another in different stages of completion) to donate to local nursing homes! This would be a great idea as well!!
What a lovely and practical gift - thinking of you as you make yet another adjustment in your lives.
Trying to do nice things for Valentine's Day and still helping MIL in her home each day. Saw the new 5 person home in a very nice and safe neighborhood for the first time ..I've stayed out of the dealings and let the 3 sons do that, as they should. It's very, very nice, a reasonable price compared to most, clean and well staffed. The RN owners are warm and personable and caring.It's as good as we could probably get without going to expensive. My mail comments,blog workings, and photos are all under different sign ins and they are not playing niceley with one another, so leaving today's comment and thanks to those who left comments,here. ; You guys are the best!
Got it, felt it, loved them!
Flo, you know exactly then. If the senior still has their mental faculties, its a challenge because they are so sad! We really have tried and now it is just plain time. But we did get her in really good shape for the home care staff and her acceptance is just about there! Valentines is hard but so was getting through Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years and her 96th birthday. Every day becomes a day that feels like you should wait a bit more and it gets too hard and prolonged as some point, doesn't it. Keep in touch, Flo..you've been where we are now going!
That is so wonderful, Josie! I do belong to a guild. It's so big that we are able to donate 50 plus quilts every single month. I know a lot of them go to the hospital..preemie and hospice, and many to church missions, lots to foster care kids...pillowcases often work better for them. But I honestly don't know about nursing and care homes I need to check on that one. So, thanks so much for this!
This is wonderful. I'm making my mom one as soon as I can! Thank you for this idea.
Wow...you're very generous; THANK YOU!!! My Mom is in a nursing home and they are forever not having bibs...so I'd like to make (try) her some nice bibs.
Thank you soooooo much!
My Mom is in a nursing home and they're forever not having bibs available. What and when they do have some...they're pretty pathetic. Anyway, I'd like to try to make some special bibs for my Mom.
Thank you so much; you're awesome...so generous.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
God Bless ya!
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