THURS., FEB. 27 & FRI., FEB. 28, 2014

February 27, 2014, Thursday. I went to the NH about 3:15 today. I added some seed to the feeder, blinds half open. Mom was resting on her bed, no O2, teeth in, no glasses. White Christmas was playing on the DVD player, sound low. I called for assistance to get Mom up and changed. I noted one light bulb out in the bathroom and Nurse Steve wrote a slip on it. C.N.A. Roxanne came and changed Mom and we got her up and into her chair. I got clean leggings out of her drawer and put them on her. I brushed her hair, cleaned her glasses, cleaned her hands, put cream on her hands and arms, got her a sweater and we went to Bingo in the Great Room. Mom tried to eat the hand cream. Mom enjoyed the activity but she mixed-up the potato chips with tokens and I had to keep an eye on her. We returned to her room. I changed the DVD and we channel surfed some. The birds came and we watched the birds. We hung up clean clothes. We played “peas porridge” and she could only sequence the words “hot”, “cold” and “in the pot”.  We looked at photos and she identified some people then out of the blue asked “Where’s Brooks? He lives in a town somewhere.” I told her he lives in Portland, OR. I found her cushion in the closet and Yvonne helped me get it under Mom and in the chair. I accompanied Mom to the dining room, got her a coffee and left with her dirty clothes about 5:15 PM. Mom’s ability to respond to cues and initiate action has declined.  She speaks in sentences. Her conversation is often non-sequential but still coherent. When I am with her in an activity, she requires constant supervision. I do not have opportunity to sketch.

February 28, 2014, Friday. I went to the NH about 3:15 PM. I fed the birds, blinds half open. Mom was asleep on her bed, teeth in, no O2. I cleaned her glasses and called for assistance and C.N.A. Marlene came quickly and helped me get Mom into her w/c. I brushed her hair, gave her a hat, cream on her face, cleaned her hands, and cream on arms and hands. We channel surfed a little then I turned down the sound and we played patty-cake. Annie came around and invited us to activities. I accompanied Mom to the Great Room for French Fries and harp concert. With encouragement I got Mom to eat some French fries independently. She did dip into her coke sometimes and sometimes just sucked the ketchup off the potato. She spilled her coke and I got a towel and cleaned it up. She didn’t finish her fries. We waved our hands and clapped and Mom still has rhythm. We returned to her room and I put the TV back on the DVD then took her to the big TV room. I left about 5:15 PM. Mom could keep time and said some words appropriately but she does not initiate or respond to cues. She requires more assistance to direct activity.

TUES., FEB. 25 & WED., FEB. 25, 2014

February 25, 2014, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 4:50 PM today. The bird feeders were full and the blinds were open. I donated a stuffed bear from Sharon to the Activities department. Donna said yes they had a candidate for the bear. Mom was in her w/c in her room alone with the DVD of Singing in the Rain playing. C.N.A. Adam told me that he left Mom with Carl. I called Carl when I got home and we talked about not ever, ever leaving Mom in her chair alone because she may attempt to get into bed by herself. I also noted new flowers in Mom’s arrangement. I noticed that she did not have on the pink leggings and put a pair on her. Yvonne brought Mom’s tray and Mom ate pretty well tonight. She ate about 1/3 of the enchilada, 1/4 of the corn & beans and some of the rice. She ate some of the fruit then I gave her a chocolate. Luz the Med Nurse came in while we were eating and talked about removing Mom’s Wander Guard since her recent decline. Mom and I played peas porridge hot. At first Mom would follow the movements but not recite the rhyme. I worked with on just the rhyme then added the hands and it worked. She played successfully. We looked at photographs. She identified her parents and her siblings but misidentified her children, mixing sibling names with children’s names. We channel surfed some and I got her nightgown on her. I called for assistance and Yvonne came. We got her into bed and I assisted Yvonne in changing her and getting her into bed. I brought Mom a new stuffed dog from Sharon and Mom was very pleased and wanted both the dogs in bed with her. I noted that the slacks Mom had on were Souhange’s so I put them in her laundry. I put the DVD of White Christmas on and left about 6:30 PM. I found both of Mom’s clean laundry bags left by Riley and Helen and brought them home. 

February 26, 2014, Wednesday. I didn’t go to the NH today.

 

SUN., FEB. 23 & MON., FEB. 24, 2014

February 23, 2014, Sunday.  Helen left to go see Mom about 11 AM. About 11:45 AM she called from the NH to say that Mom is almost out of clothes. I have clean clothes for her here but kept forgetting to mention it. I asked Helen to bring the dirty clothes home. Helen was assisting Mom in the dining room and said that Mom took a drink of water for herself. Helen also said that Mom propelled herself independently this morning and escaped from her oversight!!! That means Mom is demonstrating initiative! Mom has benefited from all this extra attention and time that Helen has been able to devote to her. Helen brought Mom’s dirty clothes home and picked up a bag of clean clothes about 5 PM. She returned to the NH to assist Mom in eating supper. Helen reports that Mom ate well at both lunch and dinner. Helen hung up Mom’s clean clothes then assisted Mom into bed, cleaned her teeth and put O2 on. She left the NH about 6:30 PM.

February 24, 2014, Monday. I did not go to the NH today. Helen went this morning and assisted Mom during lunch. She reported that this afternoon Mom said “you can go now” which Mom has said to me before. It indicates Mom is feeling perky and confident. Helen also returned around 5 PM and assisted Mom at supper. Helen said that Mom did not eat well tonight but did eat ¾ of a banana, all of an orange (spitting out the fiber) and drank most of a Boost. Helen also reported that the C.N.A. did not adjust Mom properly in the bed and Helen had to pull Mom up. Helen cleaned her teeth, put on the O2, turned out the light. Helen left the NH about 6:50 PM.

FRI., FEB. 21 AND SAT., FEB. 22, 2013

February 21, 2014, Friday. I went to the NH about 3:45. I fed the birds, blinds closed. C.N.A. Roxanne told me that Mom had gone to activities in the Great Room. I put Mom’s new DVD in her room and noted that her room is cold. I found Mom in the Great Room watching practices for wheelchair racing. We had cherry pie and cherry sodas. I drew Mom and coerced her to draw a flower. We returned to her room and I put on the new DVD. Then I took her to the Big TV Room. We played patty cake. Mom was initiating some action and playfulness. I left about 4:30 PM.

February 22, 2014, Saturday. I did not go to the NH today. Helen is visiting from CA and she went this morning about 11 AM. Helen reported that Mom did not eat much at lunch but did eat some; about ½ her potatoes a couple of bites of bread & butter,  two bites of turkey and about ½ peach cobbler. Staff gave her a Boost to give to Mom later. She said that staff was very helpful and responded to call to assist and to change Mom. The cna in the lunchroom told Helen that they just love it when her brother comes to play at lunch time. She said everyone enjoys it, especially the staff.  Helen also reported setting off an alarm by passing too close to a door. Mom spoke to Helen and asked “to go home” meaning her room, plus she was expressive and played hand games. Helen brushed her hair, gave her a back massage, played hand games and put cream on mom’s face. She also cleaned mom’s teeth after mom ate. Helen asked for help to change her, because she was quite wet. The cna came and helped right away and then mom went into her bed for a nap. White Christmas was playing. Helen left around 2:00 Helen returned to NH about 4:00 PM. and put in the Shrek movie that Helen bought for her. Mom seemed to enjoy it.  Helen combed her hair again. Then Carl and Charlotte came by. Mom smiled quite a bit while Charlotte and Carl chatted with Helen. Carl took several pictures of Helen and everyone together. Then Helen took mom outside to go to the parking lot to look at Carl’s car and the collages on the sides of it. Then they came back inside and mom’s tray arrived for dinner. Carl and Charlotte left and mom ate ½ of a eggroll, 1/8^th of some sweet and sour pork, 1/3 of her vegetables, ¾ of her desert, and almost an entire Boost. Mom really wanted to get into bed and tried to lift herself onto the bed. The cna arrived and Helen and he noticed that mom was really wet. Then she was changed by the cna. Helen and the cna found a nightgown for her. Then she went right to sleep, but Riley arrived and Helen woke her up for just a minute to say “Hi” to Riley. She was really happy to see him. Helen put in “Pirates of the Carribean.” Then she left as mom was beginning to doze off. Around 9 PM, Helen returned to the NH to put on a looping DVD for Mom. Helen found the O2 out of place, light still on and Pirates still playing. She changed the DVD to Singing in the Rain, put O2 back in place and closed the light.

TUES., FEB. 18, WED., FEB. 19 AND THURS., FEB. 20, 2014

February 18, 2014, Tuesday.  I went to the NH about 3:45 PM. The feeders were full. Mom was sleeping on her bed and Souhange was in her chair, her TV off. Mom’s TV was on playing DVD, sound down. She had her O2 on, teeth in and the window was open. The room was warm. I spoke to Nurse Steve and he came and checked the room, blinds, the window and said that they were having difficulty with temperature controls because of the changing temps outside. Mom awoke and I called for assistance to get Mom up. C.N.A. came in with two trainees and got Mom changed and up into her chair and left. I gave Mom a brush and she brushed her hair then I did too. I got her glasses and they were extremely filthy covered with debris. I cleaned them. We hung clean clothes I brought then went for a walk outside. We went to my car and I got some garbage bags out of the trunk then we walked to the front of the building. I tried to get her to sing but no luck. She enjoyed it when I sang and waved her hand. She asked to go inside. That is a First. Usually it takes coercion to get her back inside. We went back to her room. I changed the DVD. We channel surfed some. I gathered the dirty clothes then took her to the dining room. I said good bye then got the clothes.  Mom is happy to see me and has playful moments but interaction is minimal. I left about 5 PM.

February 19, 2014, Wednesday. I didn’t go to the NH today.

February 20, 2014, Thursday. I went to the NH about 3:45 PM. The feeders were full, blinds half open.  I went to Mom’s room and noted fresh flowers, Carl had signed in for today but no one signed in for yesterday. I left clean clothes in Mom’s room and found Mom in the Great Room playing Bingo. Her responses improved as I assisted her with the games. We returned to her room with her prizes and found Souhange trying to get C.N.A. Roxanne and 2 trainees to get the heart off the door. Apparently she wanted it, so I got it down and gave it to her. Mom and I hung up clothes and channel surfed some. We played patty cake which she enjoyed a lot and she actually coordinated with me on the words “hot”, “cold” and “old”. Then I took Mom outside for a brief walk. When I returned to take her to the dining room a trainee was bringing her tray so we took it to the dining room and I started Mom with her supper. Usually when she has to wait to be served in the dining room she gets her meal at about 5:55PM then they take up trays by 6:30 PM so she doesn’t get very long to eat. Tonight she will have time as I left her with food about 5:15 PM. Mom’s responses improved during my visit.  

 I returned to the NH about 7:45 PM. Mom was in bed watching Singing in the Rain, teeth still in, nightgown on backwards, no O2, no glasses. The room was quite cold. I got another cover out of the closet and put it on Mom’s bed. I got Mom’s nightgown turned around frontwards (open in the back). I was glad to see that she had on one of her own nightgowns because they are heavier than the NH issue. I cleaned her teeth, gave her a chocolate and said good night. I left about 8 PM.

SUNDAY, FEB. 16 & MONDAY, FEB. 17, 2014

February 16, 2014, Sunday. I went to the NH about 7 PM, blinds half open and one window half open. It was a nice day today. Mom was in bed, awake, O2 on, teeth out, glasses off, watching DVD with sound down. Souhange was asleep on top of her covers.

I closed the window and discovered the blinds on that window weren’t working. Mom did not recognize me until I took off the mask. I brushed her hair, we put on Purell then hand cream. I changed the channel and channel surfed a bit. I muted the sound and we played patty cake. She had difficulty with that tonight but when I tried to get her to sing she moved her mouth and made expressions like she was imitating me. I changed the DVD to Easter Parade. I left about 7:30 PM. I went to the nurse station and spoke to Nurse Sandra about the window and the blinds. I filled out a yellow slip for the blinds and Nurse Sandra agreed that the window should not be open. I did not see that either Riley or Carl signed in today so our family didn’t open the window.

February 17, 2014, Monday. I spoke to Riley this morning about 11 AM before I left for work. He said that he would see Mom tonight. I spoke to Nurse Rose today about 6 PM confirming Mom’s Care Plan meeting for 3 PM, Wed., March 12, 2014.

FRI., FEB. 14 & SAT., FEB. 15, 2014

This is the pink Japanese Lantern that is hanging from Mom's mobile of fishes in her room.

February 14, 2014, Friday. Yesterday I telephoned and asked to talk to Sam, the social worker, about Mom’s care plan meeting scheduled for Wed., March 5. I was told that Sam no longer worked for RNC. I spoke Nurse Diana who suggested I talk to Rose, Unit manager. This morning I talked to Nurse Rose and she suggested that we schedule for the following week, during Spring Break, March 12. I emailed Regina from Hospice about changing the date, also. They have to clear all this with Medicaid. Regina emailed back about rescheduling for Thursday, March 6 at 3 PM. Either time is fine with me. I called Riley this morning and asked if he was able to go by last night. He said that Terri got the stomach virus that her father had and was very ill yesterday. He did not go by and take Mom’s teeth out. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM, blinds closed, feeders full. Mom was at the activity in the Great Room. I had on a mask and Mom did not seem to know me but was cooperative. She had her teeth in, glasses on. In Mom’s room I noticed that Carl signed in yesterday and today about 3 PM. There was a Valentine’s card from Brooks and Peggie, opened on the table. We looked at it together and I pinned it up. The DVD was playing and Souhange was resting on her bed. Souhange got up and went to supper. I got Mom set up for supper and the C.N.A. brought Mom’s tray. Mom ate all of her bread, less than half her cake, and some of her ziti. It was slow going. We channel surfed and played patty cake. I returned her tray to the dining room and came back and got Mom into bed. I cleaned her teeth, cleaned her glasses, put the O2 on and gave her a chocolate. I put the TV back on the DVD. Mom did not indicate any capacity to make a decision or a choice. Her current decline is difficult for me. I did not try to get her to sing today. I left about 6:40 PM.

February 15, 2014, Saturday. I called Riley about the clothes bag. He said he planned on visiting Mom today. He said that Terri’s Dad was due to be discharged to a new situation today, new facility. I said I would go later as I was feeling weak today. I sent an invoice to RNC for reimbursement for the TV/DVD player. I went to the NH about 7 PM. I have a backache now and feel very weak. When I got home tonight it occurred to me to use Tiger Balm and it is helping! The birdfeeders were full, blinds closed. I wore a mask and went to Mom’s room. Mom was sleeping, teeth out, glasses off, O2 on, DVD on, sound down. I put condiments and denture cleanser in the drawers and got the Purell for me and for Mom. I signed in. Souhange was resting on her bed, sound down on her TV. Mom awoke and did not know me until I removed my mask and spoke to her. She was sleepy. Her covers were all out of sorts. One cover had Souhange’s name so I folded that up and put on her table. There was a diaper on Mom’s table. It looked used so I discarded. I straightened Mom’s cover and called for assistance to get her straightened up on the bed. I turned up the sound on the TV and Mom & I clapped hands. A C.N.A. came and we scooted Mom higher on the bed. I adjusted all the covers and gave Mom a caramel. I picked up a dirty blouse and said goodnight to Mom. Souhange signaled that she wanted something. After wrong guesses I figured out she wanted her light turned out. I left about 7:30 P.M.

FEB. 11, FEB. 12 & THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 2013

February 11, 2014, Tuesday. I didn’t go to the NH today because I am still sick. I talked to Carl and Riley on the phone. Carl said that he would go by and visit with Mom and Riley said that he would go by late around 9 PM, after his 7 PM class and check on her teeth, check on Mom. They said that they would talk to each other on the phone.

February 12, 2014, Wednesday. I didn’t go to the NH today. I talked to Riley. He went by earlier about 3 PM and found Mom sleeping. He plans to go by again later to check on Mom’s teeth. He said last night she was alert, speaking in sentences and her teeth still in about 9 PM. If she falls asleep with her teeth in she will often remove them and “hide” them. Sometimes they are found in her bed with her but sometimes they are just gone. My theory is that she throws them in the trash can by her bed for safe keeping then housekeeping comes through about 5 AM and empties all the trash cans.

February 13, 2014, Thursday. I went to the NH about 10:15 AM. I told Riley that I would be going to the NH early and he said that he would be able to check on her teeth later but I will double check about that.  The blinds were half open and the feeders were full. I took in the clean clothes and found Mom on her bed, teeth in, dressed, glasses on, O2 on, DVD playing, sound down . I got Mom up, gave her a scarf and a hat, brushed her hair and we went to Nail Spa. Souhange was also resting on her bed with her TV off. Souhange tends to expand her space subtly. I left a note for the beautician to do Mom’s hair. Tomorrow is Valentines Day so I hope they work Mom in. Mom was thirsty and I got her water to drink. I cleaned her nails and she got a bright pink today for her nails. I could Not coax her to choose, no matter what strategy so I tried. She enjoyed the manicure but there are no clippers in this activity and Mom’s nails needs some cutting. I filed. Mom was cooperative. A child was in the room and tried to interact with Mom and Mom did finally make some pleasant faces with the child but no speaking. As we left the activity Mom waved her hands about gracefully and showed Amy and others her nails, very pleased with her new color. We returned to her room and we hung up clothes. Mom demonstrated understanding of the task but was not able to accomplish any of the steps. I changed the DVD to a different Fred A. film. Mom showed interest in the film. We played patty cake successfully. I took Mom to the dining room for lunch. I returned to her room, got the dirty clothes and left about 11:30 PM. I wore a mask but everyone recognized me.

SAT., FEB. 8, SUN., FEB. 9 & MON., FEB. 10, 2014

Carl took this photo of Riley helping Mom eat on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014.

February 8, 2014, Saturday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. The bird feeders were full and the blinds open. Mom was resting on her bed watching Fred A., sound down, O2 on, glasses on, teeth in. Carl signed in earlier today and there was a banana peel on the bedside table. There was no trash can in Mom’s area. The C.N.A. came and changed Mom and got her up. She was very sweet with Mom and got us a trash can. I got Mom set-up for supper and changed the channel to TCM, Auntie Mame. Mom was really enjoying the film. She did not eat well tonight but I took ½ of a banana left there and chopped it with the pears and she ate all of that. I turned off the TV after supper and tried to play with Mom, coax her to sing. She asked me where I learned that game and I could not coax her to sing-a-long. I assisted her to bed, cleaned her glasses, put her O2 on, gave her a chocolate. Mom did not want to watch the Fred A. DVD so I changed it to Winged Migration which she indicated that she did want to watch. Mom was not responsive to cues and questions. I had a hard time getting her to give me her teeth and had to put my hand in her mouth to get the meaning across to her. Mom was happy to see me and was cooperative but had a great difficulty understanding. She was counting lights outdoors and distracted by things unrelated to what we were doing. I spoke with Nurse Steve before I left. He said that Mom had begun a 5 day treatment to clear her ears. I left about 7 PM.

February 9, 2014, Sunday. I didn’t go to NH. Sick. I called Riley and Carl. They went. Riley was there in time to help Mom eat and sit with Mom. Carl came by later, too. 

February 10, 2014, Monday. I’m home sick today instead of work. I talked to Riley on the phone. He said that Mom spoke in sentences last night. She seemed more responsive. Maybe the ear cleaning is having a positive effect. He planned on going by before supper then later after his class to see to her teeth, check on her.

FRIDAY, FEB. 7, 2013, DECLINE

February 7, 2014, Friday. I went to the NH about 3:40. The blinds were closed. Both Mom and Souhange were asleep on their beds. There was only one portable table in their room. The Med nurse got me another one for Mom’s use. I called for assistance to change Mom and get her up. I got her changed when the C.N.A. came and we got her into her chair. I got her a hat and scarf, brushed her hair, cleaned her glasses, turned off the O2, gave her a chocolate and pushed her to the Great Room for entertainment, muffins and a coke. We clapped our hands, ate our muffins then returned to her room. I set Mom up to color and Riley came by. We talked about Mom’s decline. I cannot coax her to sing. We also talked about volunteering for activities. Riley said he would. I changed the DVD to Top Hat. Mom and I went to the dining room and I left about 5:30 PM.  It is entirely possible that my insistence on Mom propelling herself in the wheelchair may have brought on her TIA on Tuesday. Maybe. Exercise is one of the things that can dislodge plaque and cause it to travel, cause blockage. Today she was in a very good humor, laughed easily but didn’t speak much, respond to cues easily. When she did speak it was mostly nonsensical and distracted. She was very happy and recognized me and Riley.  Some of the speech and response problem may be related to her hearing. We’ll see. She is scheduled for ear cleaning.  

WED., FEB. 5 & THUR., FEB. 6, 2014

February 5, 2014, Wednesday. I got an email this morning from Hospice Nurse Regina saying that she was aware of the situation from last night and asking if we should get a CT scan. I said no, I didn’t think so but that I would come by. I went to the NH about 10 AM. Mom was sleeping soundly, O2 on, teeth in and TV on. I changed the channel to news, put some Purell in the drawer and went to the Nurse station to talk to Regina and the Nurse. Mom showed no evidence this morning of the leaning to the left or weakness in her hands and greeted staff with “Good Morning”. The TIA has passed. I left about 10:30 AM. I called Riley last night to tell him about the stroke. He said that he planned on being with Mom this evening in addition to Carl.

February 6, 2014, Thursday. Riley called today and said that he was with Mom about 2 ½ hours last night and we discussed her poor eating. He said Carl also came by and brought fresh flowers. I went to the NH about 4:40 PM. and I fed the birds, blinds open.

The C.N.A. was changing Mom when I came in and she got Mom into her chair. The DVD Singing in the Rain was playing. I got Mom set-up, changed the DVD to birds and went and got her tray. She ate fairly well tonight; most of her noodles, the summer squash, a couple of bites of bread and the strawberry dessert. I saw Nurse Steve in the hallway. He told me that Mom had a thorough exam by doctors today and passed. From interactions it is obvious to me that Mom has had some decline since Tues. We played patty-cake but I could not coax her to sing. We looked at photos and she did okay, identifying her family and her children with some mixing up of names. We hung up some clean clothes I brought then I assisted her to bed. I cleaned her glasses, her teeth, and put her O2 on. I changed the DVD to a Fred A. movie. Her ability to focus on a task is reduced. I left her about 6:30 PM then went to the charge nurse and discussed Mom. She was very good at ‘reassuring the relative’ and told me all the tests done today. Mom does have blockage in one ear. I didn’t press about Mom’s decline but did report it.

SUN., FEB. 2, MON., FEB. 3 & TUES., FEB. 4, 2013, NEW TV AND A STROKE

February 2, 2014, Sunday. I called Riley and asked him to shop for a new TV/DVD player for Mom to be paid for from her personal account at the NH. I would pay for it then get reimbursed. He did it. I went to the NH about 4:40 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was on her bed and her new TV was on the floor. The trays were late. I got Mom into her chair and started opening the new TV and cleaning off the old TV and getting ready. I asked Roxanne for a cart to carry the old TV out. I got Mom’s tray and we got started on eating. Riley arrived and we worked on the TV exchange. Roxanne brought a cart and helped Riley. Mom ate pretty well; about half of the lasagna, some of the vegetables and most of the mixed fruit.  Riley put the empty box in my car and took the old TV and DVD player.  Souhange returned to the room. I called for assistance to change Mom and assisted Mom into her nightgown and got her onto the bed. Mom was very wet. A C.N.A. came. We got her changed and set up watching the opera on DVD. I left about 7:10 PM. Mom was alert tonight. Her cough continues.

February 3, 2014, Monday. I did not go to the NH today. I talked to Riley. He said he would be able to stay with Mom tonight for supper. I asked him to figure out the remote and put on closed captioning. He said he would.

February 4, 2014, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I found Mom in the small dining room. She smiled when she saw me. We returned to her room. She propelled herself across the dining room and to the hall but she was exceptionally slow today. I pushed her to her room then got her tray. I put the DVD on the migrating birds and noted Mom’s minimal interest. When I gave her Purell for her hands, I noticed her left hand was exceptionally unresponsive. I tried to get her to clap, play patty-cake then looked at her very slumped to her left. She was hungry and started feeding herself. We got set-up to eat and then I went to find a nurse. I spoke to Nurse Steve about Mom’s weakness, slumping on her left and he contacted Hospice. Mom ate very well; most of her enchilada, half of her salad and most of her fruit cup. I got the TV set-up with closed captioning. I got her teeth out and cleaned them then gave Mom a caramel. We tried playing patty-cake and singing. I could not get her to sing along, not even Jingle Bells. Hospice nurse Leslie DesJardin arrived and she recognized me as her art teacher. Then I recognized her, remembered her name. She did an exam and said that Mom had definitely had a stroke but it is hard to say when or how serious it is without admitting her to ER for a catscan. I nixed that, imagining the terror Mom would experience going to ER. She is terrified of hospitals. She is fragile. Nurse Leslie advised watching her for leaning to the left, pressure sores. If Mom gets better in the next few days, that will indicate a TIA. Nurse Leslie left and talked to Nurse Steve. I called for assistance to change Mom. I changed the DVD to Singing in the Rain. I got a trash bag from Nurse Steve because I couldn’t remember where I hid Mom’s for the clothes hamper. Yvonne came and we changed Mom and got her to be with O2 on. I left with dirty clothes about 7:30 PM. Her cough continues.

FRI., JAN. 31 & SAT., FEB. 1, 2014

January 31, 2014, Friday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. The birdfeeders were full but there was no evidence that Riley or Carl visited Mom today. Donna from Recreation asked if I recognized some clothing but not Mom’s. Mom was in the Great Room at activities, a performance of song and dance today. Mom recognized me. She had on that lovely dress from Brooks today and a jacket. We went to her room. She propelled herself part of the way. I set Mom up at the table and showed her the Van Gogh picture book. Her DVD was malfunctioning. I put the TV on news. Souhange was still in bed with O2 but seemed better today. I went for Mom’s tray. Mom did not eat well tonight. Just a few bites of the chopped ham, lima beans and spinach in spite of the condiments I used. She did eat over half of the cornbread with honey & butter. Then she ate half of a banana in the chocolate pudding. I ate the other half. I returned her tray to the dining room. We played patty-cake then looked at the Van Gogh book. I assisted her to bed, cleaned her teeth, her glasses, put the O2 on and gave her a caramel. Mom was not responsive to her environment tonight. It took a lot of coaxing to persuade any participation in anything and I could not coax her to sing. She did not want the stuffed dog. I left about 6:30 PM. I spoke briefly with Nurse Steve.

February 1, 2014, Saturday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. The feeders were full. I went to Mom’s room and arranged some things. The TV was stuck on an image from a different DVD other than the one in the player???? I tried the Opera but it kept jerking so I turned off the DVD player and put the TV on TCM. I found Mom in the dining room and we returned to her room. Yvonne brought her tray. Souhange was not in the room. Mom ate pretty well tonight; about ¼ of the cheeseburger, some French fries, half of the soup and all of the fruit cup. We hung up some clean clothes, played patty-cake and sang some along with the TV, The Wizard of Oz. I assisted Mom into bed. Her bed did not have a top sheet so I found one on the linen cart and put it on her bed.  I cleaned Mom’s glasses, her teeth and put her O2 on. She wanted her stuffed dog tonight. I gave her a caramel and left about 6:30 PM. Souhange had returned to the room. Mom was alert and responsive tonight. She still has a cough.