Mom had a good day today...seemed to be more alert/awake (though eyes were closed most of the day). She didn't appear to be "out of it" type of asleep...just asleep because she was tired occasionally. While doing her physical therapy this morning, I noticed that there was a red, almost bruised, area under her left leg were her leg usually sits in the leg rest I made for her to keep her feet suspended (the physical therapists said the heels of the feet are a place of high incidence of bed sores so keep them "floating" [not touching the mattress/suspended in air] as much as possible). I removed her legs from the leg rest and had both the CNA and Medication Nurse look at her leg. The medication nurse thought it didn't look too bad and agreed that we should keep both her feet and her leg suspended until the area heals and the redness goes away. This red spot was not there yesterday at all or last night. It also is not an open wound. PRAY that the area heals and doesn't turn into a bed sore. It looked better tonight. Though Mom didn't open her eyes for me today, she did open them 15 times for dad and Terry this afternoon. Dad also said that mom took her right hand and reached for her left hand and held one hand in the other over her stomach! It seems that she makes progress each day. I bought some hand towels to roll up and place in her hands for a more natural open hand position as mentioned yesterday.
We are planning to meet the staff at their next Team Meeting (hopefully this week). We all need to be on the same page and everyone needs weekly updates on Mom's status as well. If anyone can think of any pressing questions we should ask, please feel free to suggest some to us. Among those we plan to ask are these:
-Are the pillows/rests I made for mom's left arm with edema and for her legs too firm to use? Can they cause a bed sore?
-Would a tempeurpedic pillow be good to use for her head?
-Is it possible for her to be in a room alone (there are many empty rooms/people with only one person in the room) --- [her roommate, while very sweet, has her TV on pretty loud at all hours of the day and night; this is not good for mom because the stimulation will become 'white noise' or background noise and dull her auditory awareness---it also zaps all her energy!! Can make her more tired than she already is.
-What medication was given yesterday to open her airways? Is it new or always used? (she is breathing much easier today as a result!! Almost no coughing, and her Tidal Volume was between 586-632 which is good)
-Discussion of the side effects of the drugs she is currently on (many of the common side effects of these drugs are sleepiness, confusion, blurred or double vision, DIFFICULTY BREATHING!!!!, edema, high blood sugar, hyperglycemia....and many other lovely things). Does she need all these meds any more??? Can they be discontinued or decreased?
-Is it possible to get a foot board for mom?
-Reinstruct CNAs in how to float her feet and elevate her arm with the edema----(both are never done whenever we arrive)
It is so disheartening, day after day, to see that no one really cares about the people in the facility---it's all about maintenance not restoration. Pray for a renewed awareness in the staff of what they are capable of doing to make positive changes in the lives of the people in their charge. Pray to help them become passionately involved in their work and the people they care for. Pray for a more positive atmosphere and one that breeds renewal and restoration in everybody there (staff and patients alike).
"Work harde so God can say to you, 'Well done.' Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work." 2 Timothy 2:15
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