Hi Everyone!!
Tonight---CLaudia and I both did the update!! SO since I am too tired to juxtapose the 2--you are getting the events from 2 different perspectives! Happy Reading!
I started the morning with mom. She was asleep when I walked in the
room. I woke her and opened the blinds. A young CNA came in the room and
asked about our family pictures and who they all were. I told her that
when my mom was first in the coma we placed the pictures there so when
she woke up she would know who we all were and also find comfort in the
pictures. Now that she is so alert I feel they bring her comfort knowing
we are all with her in spirit throughout the day. It also serves as a
visual motivation to get better and be home with the people she loves.
The CNA helped me pull mom to the head of the bed. There are mornings
when I have to do this by myself and it isn’t very easy. I pull a little
on the right and walk over to the left and pull a little and back and
forth until she is at the top of the bed, this way when I lift the bed
she bends in at the waist and can eat comfortably. It was nice to have
help this morning. I am going to back up a little. When I first arrived
this morning mom’s roommate said something to me and ask me to do
something for her. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I had to be firm.
I asked a nurse to come in to witness my interaction. I stood at the
foot of her bed and said, “Mrs. X I am sorry but my family can no longer
help you. I cannot speak to you either because it only results in a
problem. If you need help, please call the nurse. Push the buzzer.”
WELL…. She yelled at the nurse that I threatened her and didn’t she see
me shake a fist at her and she is calling the police! What made me think
of getting the nurse to witness? It was divine intervention! The nurse
told her that this didn’t happen. Now I want to explain why my family is
so upset by this. We have always helped the people in the room with mom;
turned on their TV when asked, moved the phone close, given them a
tissue when needed or called the nurse for them. It bothers me that this
is happening. I understand that she has dementia, but then she should be
in that wing of the facility (especially since she keeps calling the
police). And I guess it bothers me because mom gets so upset from her
yelling and screaming and is being kept up at night. The staff at one
point mentioned moving mom and Kathy almost screamed form frustration.
OK…the good news is she was moved out during the day and mom doesn’t
have a roommate anymore. I had to leave early today because I had jury
duty! Mom asked me where I had jury duty? (great question and very
relevant) I told her where and she said, “Oh that far?” Little does
she know that it is a hop, skip and jump from where she is! She thinks I am going from home which is far away. I set her up with her tray table. I put her Lake Wobegon book, magazines, the phone, and the remote. How great it is not to have to put the mitts on. Our theory is, she was in the hospital all week without incident and it was strange surroundings. Say a prayer that we can keep them off for good. Anthony and dad came to see mom during the day. Anthony had mom do exercise with her legs but she wouldn’t put the magazine down. Anthony told her to put the magazine down and mom
said, “I’m lifting my legs!” A social worker came in to talk to dad
about mom coming home and there is a process that the PT has to show
that she can walk and if dad can’t handle mom than they can see about
assistance in the home through a specific program. It is up to social
services, they send in a nurse from social services to determine if she
is safe in the home. Con, Sam and Anthony went to see mom tonight and
put her to bed. Mom kept asking if Anthony is visiting her tonight and
they kept looking at the pictures and she asked Con is my father coming
to visit and Con said Poppy left to go eat dinner. Mom then mumbled to
herself, “I meant MY father.” Con just made as though she didn’t hear
her. We have been thinking about how we can let her know who is in
heaven and passed on. I thought of a timeline and Samantha said how
about mixing good things and deaths i.e. Ava and Lenny graduate High
School, uncle so and so passed away. We still have to give some thought
about this. Sam and Anthony took out the ipad and went through photos.
Kathy put all of her family photos from all the holidays and parties we
have had over the years on the ipad. The first photo that came up was my
friend Debbie and mom was able to name her! She saw pictures of Aunt
Carol and all of her friends and named them all. They talked about when
the photos were taken (what event) and mom carried on a conversation
with all of them. Mom started to get tired early. She told Con that she
was up last night because of her roommate. Con told her to lay back and
close her eyes. They all sat around her and mom fell asleep. Con and the
kids took out her hearing aides, put the timer on the TV, lowered the
bed and placed the mats next to the bed.Peace and be still…~Claud
Claudia began the day with mom this morning. Claudia said that, when she arrived to see mom early this morning, she asked the nurse to witness her interaction with mom’s roommate who was already asking Claudia to do things for her. They talked in the presence of the nurse and, when Claudia finished speaking to the roommate, the roommate asked the nurse if she saw how Claudia had just threatened her while shaking her fist at the roommate. Total imagination. The poor roommate must have dementia, but what she says should NOT be taken seriously.
The facility social worker called me at work today to “take a statement” about what happened with mom’s roommate last night. I explained everything to the social worker and was informed that it was only a written accusation and no big deal. I asked for a copy of anything written.
The roommate was moved to another room!!!
When Anthony got to mom this morning, she was reading a magazine. She was engrossed in it and didn’t talk much to him unless he engaged her. The speech therapist came to reassess mom (as explained to Anthony, this is standard protocol after a hospital stay of more than 2 days). All the various therapists need to reassess mom today. The speech person brought mom crackers and water. Mom ate and drank with no problems. The therapist came to observe mom during lunch as well mom did fine. The therapist assured Anthony that mom would be back on a typical diet by dinner time today. Anthony worked on mom’s gross motor skills by exercising her legs. He gave her commands and mom followed them with success.
When I arrived to see mom, she and dad were watching TV. Physical therapy came to assess mom and said she would resume sitting in the wheelchair and going for physical therapy tomorrow. The physical therapist was impressed with mom’s strength in her legs!! This is all thanks to Anthony. The speech therapist told dad that speech would resume tomorrow along with regular, thin liquids.
Mom did something today that she used to do multiple times a day at home pre-stroke and aneurysm, she called to dad, who is practically deaf, and then repeated his name in progressively louder tones…. “Jean, Jean, JEAN!!!!!!” She’s baaaacccckkkkkkk!!!! Hahaha!!!
Dad spoke to mom’s social worker today about what happens when it is time to go home. When it is time to bring mom home, the facility doctor has to OK the move home first. Then, paperwork is filled out which goes to Social Services. Social Services then comes to evaluate mom and decides which program mom is eligible to attend or receive. Mom is eligible for the 2nd level of service which qualifies mom to have a weekly visit from a nurse to check her out, an aide to help with bathing and dressing several times a day (a few hours a day). They would also provide transportation for mom to and from therapies. Anthony said there is also a component of mom needing to be able to walk a little as well.
Mom called her dear friends, Maureen and Florence, today. She talked to them both and told Maureen to bring her calf’s liver to eat (a favorite of mom’s). One of the friends is having cataract surgery and mom said, “What Cadillac?” These phone calls cheered mom up. She was down when I arrived and kept saying she would never be able to walk or go home. She misses her therapies. Mom and I talked and we sang songs and did exercises to increase her volume.
Con, Anthony Michael and Sammy came to be with mom tonight.
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance...." Revelation 2:2
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