Thoughts and prayers

Been wondering whether to post about this here or not. While I can bitch and rant openly about random stuff, when it's something personal like my grand-father not being well I tend to clam down.

Grand-papa is in a home, bound to a wheelchair and has been waiting to die for at least a decade now. He refuses to go outside, won't be driven to family gatherings, Christmas parties, etc. He just wants to stay there and wait for it.

Last week, his companion of many years, who's at the same home but in a different wing as she needs far more care, took a turn for the worst. This coincided with my mom's visit and her asking him if he wanted to go and see A in her room. For once, he agreed. Thing is, and my mom didn't know this, A had had three strokes that very morning. So it freaked him out.

Two days later he was being rushed to hospital, having fallen down. They feared a broken hip but he just badly bruised/twisted his foot. Fever kicked in while he was parked in the hallway of the ER for the next two days and they found he had urinary infection. Speaking with my mom last night this has now turned into a full blown infection. He's gone sceptic and he doesn't want to be treated so he pulled his IV out and caused a huge hemorrhage and serious pain. Totally freaked my mom out. He's apparently rude and even aggressive with the staff as well.

What do you do with someone who doesn't want your help?

My mom is at her wits' end. She's juggling with her own treatment/tests for her heart condition, her natural depressive state come autumn, her upcoming (early) retirement, having to teach/train the person who will step in her boots at work, getting ready for her five-week trip to Australia and now with travelling to and fro St-Hyacinthe every day to see someone who doesn't want to see anyone except the Grim Reaper.

And the irony in all this? A's condition is better.