On the way to mom and dad’s this morning, I called dad to see how mom’s night went. He said they both fell asleep at about 9 p.m. and, when he woke briefly at 2 a.m., mom opened her eyes, looked around and went back to sleep. It was a good night.
Mom sat at her own dining room table for breakfast this morning (it wasn’t until 11 a.m., but hey, she’s home!). She sat at the table and kept saying, “Oh, there’s no place like home…” over and over. Claudia and I arrived with the visiting aide (called a PCA personal care aide) who came promptly at 8 a.m. and seems very nice. A nurse from the same agency came too to evaluate mom. Mom did well. All her services are in place regarding the aide. A visiting nurse came later in the day to evaluate her too. Mom did well and we were told that she would have an OT, PT, and Speech evaluation this week sometime (we were told that each person would call to tell us when they’d be coming to see mom the morning they were coming—spur of the moment).
We have phone calls to make to various places like the hospital bed company (the bed doesn’t lock), the Medicaid SILO program for additional information on more types of support for mom, JEEP for help in a disaster like a hurricane, blizzard…
Claudia came up with the idea that we will keep a black, marble notebook for mom so that we can record what she eats, drinks, and any other things that are important to mom's health. We also made charts for dad and the aide to follow---meal charts, phone numbers... Mom didn't remember how to use the cordless phone at home, so Claudia is going to make a chart of that as well.
The PCAs just do care for mom. They don't dispense medication or run errands or do anything for dad--just for mom. The PCA can prepare meals for mom, cook for mom, clean (to a degree---keeping bathroom and kitchen sanitary) for mom, dress, groom, toilet mom etc. Mom is a "2 person assist" so there always needs to be another family member present to help move mom when the aide is there.
Anthony, Con, and Sammy came to see mom early before Sammy had a track meet this morning. It was great to have mom back home!!!
Mom was so much more “with it,” alert, and aware!!! She was louder when she talked. She was conversational. We used to be able to talk and say things in front of her without her knowing—no more!!! She hears, knows and responds to everything we say now!!!! She also makes comments about what is said too!! Claudia and I were joking with each other and I made a face at Claudia behind her back and mom said playfully,” She made a face at you!!”
We were sitting at the dining room table when mom looked down and suddenly said, “Hey wait a minute here…Who made a hole in my plastic table cloth?!!!” She then looked around the room and told me, “OK, let’s get everything in order here now!! Straighten up that table over there—get rid of all dad’s piles.”
We also plan to write or call the company who manufactures the toilet bowl in mom and dad’s house. It’s one of those supersonic ones that can flush a small animal or child—well they really do work! Yesterday, in all the confusion over getting mom to the bathroom for the first time, somehow her new pair of eyeglasses fell into the toilet bowl—unbeknownst to anyone in the room. The person manning the bowl thought something was in there that looked like it didn’t belong—but too late, the toilet was flushed!! Mom’s glasses were gone!!! Swoosh!!! Those bowls really do what they say they do!!! Hahahaha!!! (We ordered her a new pair and she has a backup pair thank God!). On the good side, there’s a rat in some random sewer running around with a pair of eyeglasses, now able to see!!!
Mom talked on the phone to Uncle Ray, Aunt Lucy, Angelo, Madeline, Jo Ann, Maureen, Carmine, and the grandkids. And speaking of talking, we now do a new therapy at home. It’s called “Doorbell speech therapy.” The doorbell at mom and dad’s rings whenever someone laughs or talks loudly. Don’t ask. So mom and I practiced yelling loudly to make it ring!! She has to raise her voice to make it ring!!! We laughed and tried over and over.
I took off her bib after eating and placed it on the kitchen counter and mom said, “Oh no Kathy, the bib has to be put away – folded and in the drawer. And that empty glass and the other upsidedown dish on the counter has to be put away too. Hey, look, I’m just telling you what has to be done now.”
Claudia and I brought her to the bathroom and I had to stand in the shower area in order to assist her and mom said, “Hey watch out—you’re dirtying my floor!”
Mom and Dad were sitting at the dining room table when mom said to dad, “Jean, what chicken broth did you buy?” Dad’s reply, “It’s the paperwork for the bed, hon.” Dad doesn’t hear too well!!! We are buying mom an old school marm’s bell to ring whenever she needs dad when the aide isn’t there. Between mom’s low volume voice, and dad’s hearing loss, communication between them should be interesting!!! Hahahaha!!!
When she was on the phone, she began talking about putting up the tree and decorating---she said, “Oh but you know, no one will do it as good as I” and laughed.
We told her we have to continue to work with her now that she is home and she asked, “Why, what part of my cognition isn’t working?"
We laughed and joked all day!!
Anthony Michael came to visit mom this afternoon. He and mom and I had lunch together. Anthony Michael prepared an apple for mom!! We 3 reminisced about when mom used to prepare an apple for him and how now, here he is cutting up an apple for her.
Samantha came to be with mom this afternoon as well. She brought her homework and she and Anthony sat at the dining room table with mom to keep her company. The kids would stop working to go to mom and squeeze her tightly and whisper, “I love you.”
Mom did great but became sleepy around 3:15 p.m. She napped a bit at the dining room table. When she woke, we 3 helped her to the living room reclining chair where she sat and relaxed and visited with Maureen and Dad. Mom and Dad’s friend, Maureen, came to visit this afternoon too. Dad had left to shop this afternoon and, the more tired mom became, the more she began to cry for dad.
By the time the PCA came back at 4 this afternoon, mom was ready to just have dinner and get ready for bed. Mom became really frustrated around 4:30 p.m. and cried saying that she can't do anything for herself. Dad gave her a pep talk and then they sat and watched TV in the living room for a while. I left to go home around that time.
All in all, it was a wonderful day.
“…joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done…” 2 Chronicles 7:10
I loved the visualization of a rat with glasses. Humor is so essential for all survivors. Laughter even reduces your blood pressure.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the wonderful posts.
Dean