I began the day with mom this morning. She was asleep but I had to wake her because the speech therapist was supposed to come this morning to feed her breakfast. Mom woke easily but asked me to leave her alone. I explained she needed to get up in order to eat. The CNA and nurse helped to lift her up in the bed properly so she would be ready to eat. I asked her nurse about getting higher floor mats at the sides of the bed. The nurse said it would be looked into (even though the request went in yesterday). I also asked about the catheter and foley bag and when they’d be removed. The problem is that no one on this floor really knows mom yet, so making recommendations…is hard to do. We get generic, stock answers oftentimes. I was told that mom would need to be re-evaluated by an outside urologist in order to have the catheter and foley removed. I was also told that a review of how many UTIs mom has had over the last year would be necessary in order to determine the cause of her recent urinary retention (holding in her urine). The retention could be due to infection, frequent occurrence of infections, brain injury…only a urologist would know for certain. Tests would be conducted like sonograms…if necessary to go the urologist route. As we spoke more, I told them that the doctor here at the facility put the catheter in. Then the nurse said she would ask the physician’s assistant to check on mom and do an assessment today (we love the PA). I put Rosemary oil on mom’s fingers this morning because the fingers on her RIGHT hand were stiff when she woke. This is not usual. I had mom smell the various oils too—frankincense and cinnamon and rosemary…and also the vanilla. Mom giggled and smelled and made faces accordingly. Mom fell back to sleep before the speech therapist and breakfast came. She was snoring again. I haven’t heard her snore in a while. The curtain around her bed was also closed and drawn when I arrived. I asked to make sure it is open for observation.
Mom’s roommate is a cute little old lady. She is teeny tiny. When they were first together, the roommate screamed and cried. She doesn’t do that now. Last night, the roommate wanted to go to bed to watch the Yankee game (uh-oh…a Yankee fan in the MET room!! Hahaha!), but the night CNA , a very young person, wouldn’t put her to bed unless she was going to lie down and go to sleep. The roommate wanted to go to bed and sit up to watch the game but the aide insisted that, if she was going to sit up, she needed to stay in the wheelchair. What happened to a person’s autonomy, independence, dignity??? Just because the roommate is very old, her requests were being ignored. Claudia spoke to the nurse and the roommate was moved to her bed and sat up with no problem. The nurse was shocked at the CNAs behavior in the matter. The roommate called out to mom and I this morning---saying hello and asking how we were. She is very cute at times. The roommate told me she wanted to reach her daughter but couldn’t remember the phone number. I told her to ask the nurse to call for her. I rang the buzzer and the nurse came and assured her that her daughter would be called. What a difficult plight for everyone involved…patients and nurses. Things are tight so staffing is often too short, so even if you are a nurse who cares, you are squeezed for time constantly. Patients are left to fend for themselves and can’t do so or are ignored. It’s sad for everyone.
I had to leave for work just as the speech therapist was arriving. I asked the therapist to please leave me a note about how mom did at breakfast and lunch. I saw quickly that there were scrambled eggs, oatmeal, milk (thickened vanilla), coffee, and a roll on the tray. Mom was still asleep when I left. I also stopped by the nurse to speak about mom and the mitt situation and mom’s anxiety at night. The nurse said that mom’s anxiety could be triggered by the change in her environment!! When I stopped to think about it, yes, the problems started the 2nd night mom was on that unit. Before that, there were no sleep problems. The nurse said to give mom a chance to get used to her new surroundings. This, coupled with the UTI, could very well be the cause for all the confusion, delusions, and sleeplessness mom has been experiencing at night. But…mom started all the problems before she changed rooms…however maybe it’s a combination of both.
When Anthony and dad arrived today mom was awake and alert and happy. Carmine was just leaving but he couldn’t work with mom because they were showering her while he was there. He told Anthony to ask the speech person about having mom tuck her chin to her chest while she eats which will cut down on choking and/or aspirating (the therapist told Anthony mom isn’t up to that yet and wanted to know how Anthony knew about that technique).
Donna joined dad and Anthony next. Donna said mom was great and did well with speech, eating and with dad but mom seemed confused with the OT. Mom seemed to misunderstand pronouns—you and me---kept trying to put the shirt on Anthony, dad or the therapist. They did the calendar and mom read the days but had a problem looking for the next number to read…she kept going to the right instead of the left…she couldn’t track even when they pointed. Otherwise, Donna said mom did great today. Mom had OT and knew her colors, followed directions, but couldn’t manage to put a T-shirt over her head. However, Anthony, dad and Donna had mom do this for them later and mom did it fine.
Anthony worked on mom’s arms and legs, mostly her arms today. He did all kinds of reaching and stretching so that she could lift them above her head. Then mom left for PT. Mom wouldn’t take any steps at PT because she said she was afraid. But mom did stand at the walker and stand straighter than before.
The speech therapist gave mom breakfast and mom ate it all. The therapist also gave mom lunch—pork, carrots, and potatoes. Mom ate it all independently but the therapist didn’t cut the meat so Donna told her to cut it and the therapist did finally do that.
John and Ava came this evening to put mom to bed. Mom was asleep when they arrived and stayed asleep for most of the visit. Mom woke but didn’t talk much…predominantly, she slept. At one point, she finally woke up and hung out with them. Ava put the mitts on mom slowly and while they were on mom, mom asked Ava to take one off so she could scratch her nose. Ava said she would scratch it for mom, but mom said Ava wouldn’t find the spot. So Ava removed one glove…and lickety-split, mom removed the other mitt and threw them across the room and laughed and stuck her tongue out at Ava!!!!
"Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer." Romans 12:12
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