Do you eat while the food is still warm?
On the less serious side of things, I wondered what other people do. My mother has to go to the bathroom a lot. The one time I am sure she will have to go is when dinner is ready. She takes 10 minutes or so, so I try to plan things so she'll have time to go to the bathroom. It never works for some reason. When we go out to eat, she often has to visit the bathroom. This isn't too bad if she does it before we order. But often we order, then she has to go and doesn't get back to the table for 20 minutes. Each day I am left with the question -- do I eat while the food is still hot or wait for her? To tell the truth, I am tired of eating cold food, but I don't want to eat alone, then sit there watching while she eats. I have a feeling that others here face this same question. Time seems to expand for elder people. One minute becomes five.
Instead of eating out, why not call the restaurant and order your favorite meals as a *carry-out*.... you can still drive your Mother to the restaurant to pick up the food so that she can still get out of the house... then the food should be fairly hot by the time you get home, depending on how far away the restaurant.
I do the carry-out with my parents, they seem to prefer eating in my dining room where it is quiet and they aren't bothered by all the clatter in the restaurant or the cold rooms. And if there is a delay after the food gets to the house, I can still quickly reheat it.
had a blast with an old construction friend at NH the other night . hes caring for his mother at NH and his 102 yr old dad in his home . bless ya lennie .. theres more to that bearded old cat than what meets the eye ..