when you go to photobucket right at the top you can select where you want to get the picture from it says as one selection the web choose that option and then just paste it's url into the blank and it will do it's thing. You can do several at a time too, and also right there at the bottom of that box it allows you to pick a size for your picture, say you want to use it for an avatar choose tiny, or to post on a forum so it does not take up as much space you could choose a smaller size. I just made it a habit many years ago not to hotlink, I have my own websites and see it happening and it really just is not a nice thing and you never know when the person will replace that picture with something um not so pretty LOL. Plus now with all the hosting sites it is not necessary. by the way I also use imageshack and it too lets you choose if you want to upload from your pc or the web.

Anything you don't know how to do, just google search for the answers. Just remember when filling out your profile information, don't give out your personal information. I have seen some people say that they don't use their real names, but as far as I know...everyone that I know uses their real names....I don't know a soul that uses some fictitious name. I actually google searched for my name and not a thing came up that was ME on facebook. And if you have your security settings set to where only your friends can see it, then if someone goes to your facebook profile page by searching for your name(within facebook), all they will be able to see is your name and the profile picture you've chosen. On mine, I just use a picture of an animal and not my face...I'm not trying to reconnect with people I've known from the past. Just be careful that your don't accept bogus friends, I used to get that all the time for some reason but I never do anymore.

Actually using a fake name isn't all that private if you have friends and family there. There is that "six degrees of separation" thing that sort of gets in the way. Facebook was designed to bring people of commonalities together. If Marita for example joined The Kitchen Table Gang on FB she would be close to disclosing her identity. If she were to have mutual friends on FB with some others from here it wouldn't take long to figure out what she was about just by reading her friends' news feeds, eventually something would come up and the fake name would appear. A Gotcha moment. It's a small world. Not a stretch to say that one of us or one her her family might be on the group she wants to post at secretly. If someone has a need to remain private then they need to use means other than a social media site like FB to deal with life issues. If people are worried about nosy neighbors or relatives then the answer is don't go to sites that are meant to help people find you. FB was designed to help people find other people who they may have lost touch with. Because that is the purpose it is not a proper place to hide behind a mask. It's a PITA for those sincere people who want to connect.

I'm not sure setting up a public facebook account...telling the public you are at home and very sick is the best idea. If you are sure to set up the page as private, I guess it couldnt' hurt. But, I think most of your helpers (elderly people who are retired) may not have facebook pages anyway. Unless you have a very close relative who can take off weeks to be with you, I don't think you are going to be able to coordinate volunteers to always be with you. People just don't have the time. I have a good friend on bedrest for a pregnancy, and to even get people over there everyday for a couple hours is hard. You probably need to come up with a different solution if you have to have someone there with you constantly.. I would think you may have to hire a nurse, or helper of some sort. Good luck.