SATURDAY, AUGUST 24-MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

August 24, 2013, Saturday. I went to the NH about 10:45 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on but the cannula not on her, glasses on, teeth in. I helped Mom get up, I gave her a chocolate and we did some personal care. I was getting hangers from her closet to hang up her clean clothes when a lady called out “Laundry!”, came in and put one of Mom’s dresses in her closet, her best one!?! That was enlightening. Mom and I hung up her clean clothes that I had brought. Mom got the hang of it before we finished (sic). Tina spotted Riley coming. He put some more seed in the feeder then came in the long way around, signing in at the front which I don’t do often. We chatted then Riley left. As I accompanied Mom to the dining room, we saw Tara and I gave her some magazines. I gave Mom one of her packets of chips from her Bingo winnings.  She propelled herself 9/10 of the way. I left about 11:45 AM.

 LATER: I returned to the NH about 8 PM. I went in the front door and signed in for a change. Mom was asleep on her bed, cannula out of place but O2 on, blinds half open. Mom awoke when I came in. I noted in her sign in book that Carl and Riley had visited her today, also. I changed the DVD to Carmen, the opera. I got Mom’s teeth and gave her a chocolate and Tina a caramel. I cleaned Mom’s teeth, brushed her hair and we channel surfed a little and I put the cannula back in place. I left about 8:30 PM.

August 25, 2013, Sunday. I went to the NH about 11 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was nodding out in her w/c in the big TV room. We went to her room opened the blinds and watched the birds. I changed the DVD and we channel surfed. I gave Mom a chocolate and Tina a caramel. I brushed her hair, cleaned her hands, gave her some hand cream and we colored. Mom had difficulty with this task and with basic decision making today. I accompanied Mom to the dining room for lunch. She propelled herself most of the way. I left about Noon.

August 26, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 7:10 PM, fed the birds, blinds half open. Mom had just gone to bed, no glasses, teeth in, O2 on. The TV was stuck. TCM was not working. Several channels were frozen, or flickering. I changed to a new DVD, Winged Migration plus opened the blinds and Mom watched the birds. We hung up a few clean clothes I brought. I cleaned her glasses and her teeth. I gave Mom a chocolate, and Tina a caramel. I left about 7:40 PM. The TV was stuck in the big TV room and Tammy, a resident asked me to change the channel. I found a movie that they said was okay.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 & FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013

August 22, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH about 3 PM. I fed the birds, blinds half open. Mom was in the Great Room waiting for Bingo! I got her a scarf and cleaned her glasses. We played a couple of games. Mom got 2 Bingos, I got one and Emma (a resident at our table) got two, also. They were still playing when I left at 4 PM. I gifted the Nurses, Diane and her assistant ATCs.

LATER: I returned to the NH about 7 PM. I fed the birds, blinds half open. Mom was in the big TV room. She didn’t want to go anywhere, she said, but we went to her room and watched the birds. I channel surfed then changed the DVD. I put Mom’s 2 bags of chips and some Oreos from the Bingo this afternoon in the bottom drawer. She ate an Oreo. C.N.A. Franca was speaking in a beautiful Nigerian dialect to another nurse. Then she came and got Mom changed and into bed, put her O2 on. I cleaned Mom’s teeth. Tina told me about a visitor Mom had while Mom was napping, today or yesterday.  Mom fell asleep and I left about 7:45 PM.

August 23, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 2:40 PM and there was no place to park! There were trainees, or classes, from UT all over the place. I fed the birds, blinds open. Mom was awake on her bed, glasses on, teeth in, sound down on DVD and she had taken the O2 cannula off. I put it back on her, cleaned her hands, gave her a chocolate and changed the channel to PBS. She said she did not want to get up. I cleaned her glasses, she watched the birds and the TV while I sketched her. She looked very nice today. Then I wiped her face, brushed her hair, helped her into her w/c and accompanied her to the Great Room. She propelled herself ¾ of the way. They were preparing for a Black & White Cow (Root Beer Float) celebration with accompanying music. The entertainer, Tennessee Jeanne, handed out mariachis. Mom got one much to her delight. Annie came by, we talked about birdseed prices, and I gave her an ATC and then left before they really got started about 3:30PM.

LATER: I went back to the NH about 8:30 PM. I put birdseed in the feeders, blinds open. Mom was asleep on her bed but when I came in she woke up. I gave her a chocolate, put her O2 on and got her teeth and cleaned them. I sat with her until she went to sleep again then left about 9 PM.

AUGUST 20 & WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21, 2013 A PERM!

August 20, 2013, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 11:30 AM (car trouble). I fed the birds, blinds open. There was a bag of birdseed in Mom’s room on her portable table. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on but cannula on the floor, glasses on, teeth in. I turned off the O2 and got Mom up, cleaned her glasses and put conditioner on her hair. We channel surfed a little bit, watched the birds then I took her to the dining room for lunch. I got Mom a coffee. I spoke to the beautician, head nurse Diane and C.N.A. Dalmaccio about taking Mom to the beauty shop after lunch for hair do.

LATER: I returned about 8:30 PM. I fed the birds, blinds partially open. Mom was asleep on her bed, O2 on, glasses off and teeth still in. I got her to very sleepily give me her teeth. I cleaned them and put them in the container on her bedside table. I gave Tina a sugarless candy but Mom really didn’t wake up. Her hair looked great! A permanent!!! Tina said Mom had been laughing. The Nurse told me that Mom had a great day today! I left about 8:50 PM. 

August 21, 2013, Wednesday. I went to the NH about 11 AM. I fed the birds, blinds open. Mom was resting on her bed, teeth in, glasses on, O2 on, sound down on DVD. We got Mom got up, did some personal care and hung up the clean clothes I brought. Mom did some problem solving but with difficulty. We watched the birds and channel surfed a bit then went back to the DVD. We headed towards the dining room. We stopped in the hallway and I had Mom stand and look at herself in the mirror with her beautiful hairdo (permanent). Mom & I got Mom a coffee in dining room I plus one for Mary. It was awkward carrying two coffees but we made it. I left Mom at her place for lunch about 11:45 AM.

LATER: I went to the NH about 7:10 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was in the big TV room with other residents. I took her picture, then we went to her room. I opened the blinds and we watched the birds. I gave Tina a candy and a chocolate for Mom. Tina asked about the black pants and I said yes, they weren’t Mom’s. I thought maybe they were hers. We channel surfed some then I got her teeth and cleaned them. C.N.A. Anabel said she would come in a minute to put Mom to bed. I started helping Mom change when Anabel came with a trainee. They spoke mostly in Spanish. After they left, I said goodnight to Tina and Mom and left about 7:50 PM.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 - MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013

August 17, 2013, Saturday. I went to the NH about 11:30 AM. The blinds were partially open when I fed the birds. Mom was in the big TV room. I accompanied her back to her room and we watched the birds and channel surfed. I turned up the sound, gave Mom a chocolate, cleaned her glasses, brushed her hair, wiped her face. Mom wanted to “go” so we went for a walk to the covered patio. She propelled herself most of the way. It was very warm but Mom liked it. We sat awhile and I sketched her hands. Then the lunch bell sang out and we went to the dining room. I got Mom a coffee and left her at her lunch place as the C.N.A. was giving her a Boost, vanilla. I left about 12 Noon.

LATER: Tonight the NH seemed short staffed. When I left at 7:45 there were still 5 or 6 residents in the big TV room waiting to go to bed. I arrived about 7 PM and Riley was in the parking lot. He fed the birds and I went in. Mom was in her w/c watching TV with the sound turned down. Tina was in bed. I gave Tina a caramel and Mom a chocolate. Riley came in and visited with Mom, noticing that Carl had visited, brought flowers. We talked about the party tomorrow and we watched the birds. Mom’s pillow had no pillowcase. The cart on her wing had no pillowcases but I found some on the other wing of Unit 2.   I cleaned Mom’s glasses and teeth and called for assistance to put Mom to bed after Riley left. No one came but Mom and I managed to get her changed and into bed. We channel surfed, watched the birds then I put the TV back on the DVD, sound up. I left about 7:45 PM.

August 18, 2013, Sunday. I arrived at NH with Bill assisting to carry all in for the birthday party. Bill put water in birdbath and I fed the birds. We found Mom in her w/c in the big TV room. We accompanied Mom to the dining room. She propelled herself most of the way. Bill started setting up while I got Mom a hat, beads, sweater and glasses cleaner. Mom started opening her gifts then Riley came with more gifts, a blanket. Then Terri, Carl and Charlotte arrived. We had cake and ice cream and Riley played wonderfully! And Mom opened more gifts; new hat, socks, blanket, paper bound together, crayons, bubbles, flowers, DVD. Then Kim arrived with hoops just as Carl and Charlotte were leaving and we were packing up. Riley played, Kim danced with hoops, Terri and I clapped along. I hooped a little. Bill helped pack up and we left Mom in the dining room with Kim about 4:55 PM.  Mom started out having difficulty problem solving today but smiled a lot. She improved in attentiveness as the party progressed.

LATER: I returned to the NH about 7:10 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open. Mom was asleep in bed, O2 on, glasses off, teeth in, sound down on DVD. Mom woke up and took her teeth out then I cleaned them and left them in cleanser. I gave Mom a regular caramel and a sugarless one to Tina. We watched the birds. We channel surfed then I changed the DVD to Easter Parade. I left about 7:30 PM.

August 19, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 10 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I left some chocolate cupcakes at the nurses station for Mom’s birthday. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, no teeth. I got her up and we got her teeth in. We looked at some of her gifts again, she ate a chocolate, watched the birds then we headed for the Great Room activity today. I sketched Gwen today then helped Mom play the spelling/word game with the other residents. We returned to her room. When Nurse informed me that we couldn’t leave the bubbles in Mom’s room for future use, I discovered the lock was missing from the overnight bag in Mom’s closet. I gathered up dirty clothes then accompanied Mom to dining room for lunch. I got Mom a coffee then left about 11:50 AM.

LATER: I went to the NH about 7:15. The birdfeeder was full, blinds open. Tina said Riley had been there. He put the O2 on Mom and Mom was sitting in her W/c watching DVD sound up. I brushed her hair, cleaned her hands. There was a card from Quembe, which we read and talked about. I gave Mom a chocolate, Tina a caramel and a C.N.A. came and we got Mom into bed and changed. I took out Mom’s teeth and cleaned them. We channel surfed a little then Mom dozed off. I left about 7:40 PM.

BIRTHDAY! 94, SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013 (a day early)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15 & FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

August 15, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH about 11 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was in the Great Room at a game of balloon Volleyball. Staff said that she did well. I accompanied her back to her room. We watched the birds and channel surfed. I gave Tina a caramel and Mom a chocolate, cleaned her hands, put some conditioner on her hair, brushed it, found her hat, wiped her face. Mom and I went for a walk to the covered patio and looked at the plants and the sky. Then I accompanied her to her dining room for lunch. I spoke to recreation staff about Mom’s party on Sunday then left about Noon.

LATER: I returned to the NH about 8:20 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open. Mom was asleep in bed, O2 on, glasses off, sound down on DVD and teeth in. I got Mom’s teeth, cleaned them and put them by her bedside, closed the blinds and turned up the sound on the DVD. I left about 8:30 PM.

August 16, 2013, Friday.  At 10:35 this morning the blinds were partially open. I fed the birds then found Mom on her bed, watching TV with no sound. I got her up, gave her a chocolate and took her to the beauty parlor but they were swamped. The beautician said “after lunch” and that a permanent would take 1 ½ hours. Annie from Recreation gave Mom a name tag with her Hawaiian name, Kalelahina. This afternoon there will be a Hawaiian party with hula dancers. We went to the Great Room but we had missed the morning show. In the big TV room I figured out how to change the channels but there was no local news (channel 8) so then we went to the spinet and played the piano some. We looked at the birthday card from Brooks (again). I left Mom at her place with a cup of coffee about 11:45.

LATER: I returned to the NH about 7:30 PM. I put water in the birdbath and birdseed in the vertical feeder, some on the ground. Mom was sleeping, blinds open, DVD playing, teeth out, glasses off. I started hanging up clean clothes when Mom awoke and said “Oh! Look at all the birds!” I raised her bed, cleaned her glasses and we watched the birds and hung up the clothes. Mom did some problem solving and noted her environment. We looked a Brooks’s card (again) and looked at a photo of Brooks, Helen and Adam. She recognized Brooks. Tina said that Mom did not go to the party this afternoon. She did not get her hair done today. I left Mom in bed about 8 PM.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 & WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013

August 13, 2013, Tuesday. Today is the Facility’s birthday party for August Birthdays! (Mom) I went to NH about 10:25. I fed the birds, the vertical feeder was almost full, blinds closed. Mom was asleep on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, teeth in, all dressed with a plastic glove on her right hand (?). I saw that Riley visited about 8 PM last night. I got Mom up and into her w/c. We watched the birds, cleaned her glasses then we went to the beauty parlor for wash and set. I left about 10:35 AM.

LATER: I went back to the NH about 3:10 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open. Mom was already in the Great room. I got her some beads and fluffed up her hair.  Riley came in one of Mom’s handpainted T-Shirts. It was a fine party with 20 August birthdays to celebrate! There was cake and entertainment and special treatment for the birthday people and their families. Carl and Charlotte were arriving just as I left about 3:50 PM.

August 14, 2013, Wednesday. I went to the NH about 11 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was asleep on her bed, her teeth in her hands and the cannula from the O2 machine out of place, DVD, not working and sound down. I opened the blinds, jiggled the wire on the DVD and turned the sound up. Mom awoke and watched the birds and channel surfed. I cleaned her teeth & glasses. Mom didn’t want to get up. She ate half of the banana that Carl left for her yesterday and the flowers were freshened up with new flowers from Carl. I put the O2 on Mom, turned up the sound on the DVD (singing in the Rain) and raised Mom’s bed some. I gathered the dirty clothes and brought them home. I left about 11:30 AM.

LATER: I went to the NH about 7 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open. The C.N.A. was putting Mom to bed when I came in. He left and Mom and I did some personal care and I gave her a chocolate and Tina a caramel. Tina told me that the Hospice nurse visited and signed the book. I said that she was supposed to sign so I would know about her visits. We watched the birds and channel surfed. Mom was restless and took her cannula off twice and threw it down. I adjusted it and she had it on when I left. I got her teeth and glasses, cleaned them then went back to Singing in the Rain. We held hands today and did some leg lifts. Mom said she had not seen this movie today so I left that on. I gave her one a small stuffed animal and she took it today, caressed it. I left about 7:40 PM.