I have been a lurker for quite some time and would appreciate this board's excellent response rate to address a question of mine. I want to plan for round the clock care for my mother but don't know what to plan for.

My mother is one induction therapy chemo treatment down with daily radiation treatment to follow in a few weeks. She needs regular monitoring of Coumadin (blood thinner) for her blood sugar (non-insulin dependent diabetic). She is on heavy doses of medication for the pain of her tumor and driving has been very limited. Due to the picc and the peg, she can't easily do things like showering and cooking; she seems to be unable to flush either of them out.

I worry about the approaching daily treatment and its effects on an already challenging care situation. My mother lives alone and almost an hour from the hospital. Family has been staying with her during treatment and she spends some time alone when she feels well enough. As we begin daily treatment, I wonder how we could ease the situation by moving her to a temporary place closer to the hospital.

What have been your experiences with short-term housing; what have been the benefits and the downsides?

During the toughest part of the treatment, is an hour to and from the hospital too much for the patient? Will she benefit from being closer to the hospital?

Thank you in advance.