Should I be the bearer of Mom's bad news?

I suggest a telephone call (3 way) with both sisters and Mom so everybody will be on the same page at the same time. It may help Mom to have someone at her side when she talks. This way Sis in Florida won't feel as left out, Sis in Maine won't be the sole bearer of bad news, and Mom will have an ally where she is.

this just happened to me. I wanted my mother to come and stay with me in Florida. My mom didn't want to hurt my feelings. My sister-en-law told me, Not in a nice way. I wish my brother would have told me. My mother couldn't. Anyway I listened to every one's point of view. My feelings were hurt, however my mom was the one everyone was concerned about and in the end I am here in New York with my mother brrrrrr, and everyone is happy. It is the best thing for her. She just can't do all the traveling she us to do. She is were she wants and needs to be. HOME.

This situation is EXACTLY how I ended up with my 96 y.o. mother!. My sister was moving 8 hrs away, and my mom talked me into telling my sister that she [my mom] didn't want to go. My sister was so enraged by this that it has irreparably ruined our sisterly relationship, she has totally abdicated any responsibility for our mother, and has been making excuses ever since [almost 3 years] about why she can;t come visit. PLEASE take the advice to make your mom do it- you can be supportive and all that, but DO NOT let this ruin your siserly bond.

Is your sister ready to take full care of mom or will she put her in a nursing home? Are you willing to let go of mom to a nursing home yet?

Great suggestions, to which i'd only add this: AFTER Mom has told sister herself, you can in conversation mention that, after all, as Mom truly recovers from the knee op and its aftermath, she will probably enjoy her old routine again. people often underestimate the true length of recovery time from surgery (or illness). for an uncomplicated routine surgery, expect full real recovery to take about 6 months. (doctors never tell you that, but other patients will). and the older you are, the longer the recovery period. right now Mom thinks she'll always feel like this -- under energized and physically still limited. but she probably won't. so soften the blow with soft soap reassurance and wait and see.