FRIDAY, OCT. 4 & SAT., OCT. 5, 2013

October 4, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 4:50 PM. I fed the birds, washed the sidewalk and watered the grass. Mom was in her room in bed and waved at me through the window. I brought a pad to sign-in on and signed. Mom’s tray was in her room and the C.N.A. brought juice for Mom and Tina. Tina said that Mom stayed mostly in bed today. Mom ate well, with a lot of ketchup. Her DVD player was off. We channel surfed and watched the birds then went for a walk after supper. Mom propelled herself most of the way down the hallways and back. We did some personal care, I washed her teeth and gave Mom & Tina a candy. I was assisting Mom to bed and called for help. I had Mom mostly changed and in bed when the C.N.A. came and finished up. I left about 6:45 PM. I put the Opera back on. Mom likes it.

October 5, 2013, Saturday. I went to the NH about 5 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed, washed the sidewalk and watered the grass. The vertical feeder was almost full but I added some. I found Mom in the dining room and brought her back to her room. The C.N.A. brought Tina’s tray and said she would return with Mom’s. We did some personal care and the Opera was still on the TV. Carl signed the book today around 2 PM. Tina said he didn’t leave any new flowers but Mom flowers looked fine. I got the tray and returned to Mom’s room. I turned off the TV and Mom ate pretty well. She said that she didn’t want to stay here anymore and seemed sad tonight. I took her for a walk outside and set off the alarms. I found out I need to push the outside button to stop the alarm. The wind was blowing and it was a bit chilly but the sun was out and it was a nice walk out back. I took Mom back to her room and the C.N.A. came and I assisted her in getting Mom to bed and changed. I washed Mom’s teeth, gave Tina and Mom candy but didn’t put the O2 on.  I changed the DVD to Brigadoon and got Mom’s dirty clothes and left about 6:50 PM.

TINA, Mom's Roommate

Tina is Mom’s roommate in 205. She was there when Mom was admitted. We chose 205 because Tina said that she would not mind if Mom had her TV on all night long. I don’t know all of Tina’s ailments but she is more independent than Mom. She goes to the bathroom independently and also uses a wheelchair but she transfers herself. She has problems with her feet especially with her right foot. She talks without self editing so while she does report what’s going on, it is often difficult to figure out what she is saying because the trail of her comments are not sequential or related in obvious denotation or connotation. Tina has a bad shoulder and has gained a lot of weight since we first met her. She has diabetes so I keep sugarless candy in Mom’s drawer to offer Tina when I give Mom candy. Her son and daughter-in-law visit. They live in Central Texas but not close by. Tina has good manners and is very nice and positive much of the time. She is fond of the Animal Planet channel on TV and is very fond of watching the birds.

WED., OCTOBER 2 & THURS., OCTOBER 3, 2013

October 2, 2013, Wednesday. I went to the NH about 5:15 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open, washed the sidewalk and watered the grass. There was some seed in the feeder and the grass was damp. Riley told me earlier today that he was going to visit. I forgot to sign the book again. When I went to Mom’s room, Nurse Ben was sitting with her and said that Mom had finished eating. He said she ate well, about half her food. Nurse Ben is a lovely gentle man and was enjoying the DVD of the Bird Migrations with Mom. Mom and I hung up the clean clothes I brought. She can hang up the clothes if I shake them out and give them to her right side up. I gave Mom some leftover cookies and she ate about three, refusing the last one. I took her teeth, cleaned them. We watched the birds out the window and the DVD. We did some personal care then I called for assistance. I got Mom into her bed and a C.N.A. came just as she was getting settled. She didn’t need changing. I gave Mom and Tina some candy then left about 6:30 PM.

October 3, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH about 5:15 PM. There was a lot of seed, blinds open, but I added some more seed plus washed off the sidewalk and watered the grass. Mom was in her bed, O2 on and her tray was on her table. I turned off the DVD and set up Mom in her w/c with her back towards the TV and turned off her O2. Tina said that Mom did not go to Bingo today. From her account it sounds like they were short on volunteers, today but I’m not sure about that. There were fresh flowers in her room and a banana peel in the garbage so Carl must have come. I could not find the sign in book nor her hand sanitizer. There were some additional condiments in a plastic container. Mom used a lot of ketchup but ate with a good appetite at finished at least half her food.  I returned Tina’s and Mom’s trays to the dining room then gave Mom and Tina candy. Tonight there was a small bright yellow bird with a green belly in addition to the usual population. It looks like a canary or parakeet. We did some personal care and I assisted Mom onto her bed. I cleaned her teeth and glasses. We channel surfed then I changed the DVD to Opera tonight. I left about 6:45 PM.

DEFINITION - "PERSONAL CARE"

Definition – “Personal Care”

This phrase covers different activities with Mom. It could refer to some or all of the following activities; (rarely all, usually some)brushing Mom’s hair, washing her face, washing her hands, putting on face cream, cleaning and/or cutting her fingernails, putting hand cream on arms and legs, checking her feet, trimming her toe nails.  C.N.A.s are not allowed to cut nails. I don’t think they are allowed to apply cream, either. I know for a fact that at least one C.N.A. has cut Mom’s nails, for  which I am grateful. Family members can do all sorts of things that are awkward or forbidden to C.N.A.s. The rules say that medical staff (R.N., doctor, specialists) can cut nails. RNC keeps Mom cleaner than either I or Cynthia ever managed. I don’t know how they do it. Mom used to fight me tooth and nail at bath time. But her skin is dry and she benefits from creams. Especially on her hands, arms, legs and face. Her feet don’t need as much attention as they used to because she doesn’t use them much now. I keep clippers and other forbidden items in a bag in the top of her closet with a suitcase lock on it. Anything marked “Keep out of reach of children” is kept in the bag. For example mouthwash. I put mouthwash in with her dentures sometimes instead of denture cleanser every night. Toe nail clippers are also in the bag. I carry a small pocket knife in my purse that I use for cleaning Mom’s nails, usually, but to cut her nails, the clippers. There are a few things in the bottom drawer of the dresser that are iffy as far as the State is concerned. For example, I have a brand of glasses cleanser that does not say “Keep out of…” in that bottom drawer.

 I once found the little suitcase lock on the bag missing. My theory is that someone broke it to see if there were “valuables”, jewelry or money, in the bag. It is just a tiny little lock. I had another just like it and replaced it, same keys. Thievery really is unusual at RNC. Things disappear then other things appear that I’ve never seen before. I don’t wash her face with soap anymore. It is too complicated. Mom doesn’t follow spoken commands well any more so it is difficult to get her to keep her eyes closed. They do keep her clean. Her bath time is early morning. But she does enjoy a warm cloth on her face and a good wipe of hands and face. And I have hand sanitizer for her hands in addition to hand cream.

MONDAY, SEPT. 30, & TUESDAY, OCT. 1, 2013

September 30, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 5:20 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed, watered the grass, hosed off the sidewalk. I couldn’t find Mom. She was in dining room III (the Great Room) with her tray eating her cake on her tray. Isabella (a resident) was keeping an eye on her. I took her tray to her room then went back for Mom. Mom did not have her glasses nor her teeth. I turned her table facing the head of the bed instead of towards the TV (off) so she would be less distracted by Tina’s TV.  Mom ate the rice and peas pretty well but the roast chicken was really dry. All the meat at the NH seems to be very dry. How do they do that? We watched the birds and channel surfed some. I took Tina’s and Mom’s trays to the dining room then pushed the button for assistance to get Mom in bed. C.N.A. Yahoo came and we got Mom changed and in bed. Nurse Linda came to give Meds to Tina and we talked about getting Mom recertified with Hospice. Nurse Linda talked about how great it is to have Hospice, an extra pair of eyes since they are so short staffed. Only Yahoo was on our wing tonight. Yahoo is from Congo and speaks a French patoi.  I put on the Little Mermaid DVD and left about 7 PM.

I got the bill from RNC Saturday for October and it makes no sense to me. It says that RNC owes Mom $131.47. If this is so then Mom will lose her Medicaid then we will owe RNC over $6,000.00. I have to talk to the RNC accountant, Candy Sandlin.

October 1, 2013, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 5:20 PM. I fed the birds, the blinds half open, washed the sidewalk and watered the grass. I forgot to sign the book in Mom’s room. Franca brought Mom from the dining room and Mom’s tray was in her room. Tina was already in bed. The birds did a grand display tonight, 10 parrots. Mom ate over half her vegetable soup and the egg salad off the bread in her sandwich. The other soup was peculiar. She ate one of the cookies and declared she was full. Mom’s bedspread stank and I pulled it off and put her bedspread plus one of the lap blankets on her. Franca came and helped Mom to bed and changed her. Franca was hurried and seemed frazzled. Mom got some kind of sinus medicine from a Med nurse also. I took her tray back to the dining room, gave Mom and Tina candy. We channel surfed some and brushed Mom’s hair. Tucked her in and changed the DVD to bird Migration. I left about 7 PM. Mom was having a lot of difficulty understanding speech tonight. There was evidence that she had participated in activities this afternoon.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 & SUNDAY, SEPT. 28TH, 2013

September 28, 2013, Saturday. I went to the NH about 5 PM today. The birdfeeder was full and it was sprinkling, blinds open. I couldn’t find Mom. She was strolling in her w/c on Unit 1 so we strolled back to her room. She propelled herself most of the way. I set her at the table with some photos to look at besides the birds and the DVD then went to find her a tray. They made up one for Mom in Dining Room II. She ate tomatoes and veggies out of the beef stew, some corn chips and one of her cookies. Carl was there today, new flowers and Mom had a yellow rose from the celebration of life of one of the residents who had passed. There was also a flyer in her room about Riley’s band playing at St. Francis School cook-off today. I called for help and Yvonne came and changed Mom and finished getting Mom to bed. I cleaned Mom’s teeth, her glasses, gave Tina and Mom a chocolate and put the TV back on the DVD. I left about 6:45 PM.

September 29, 2013, Sunday. I went to the NH about 5 PM, fed the birds, blinds closed. It rained 2 inches last night so I didn’t need to water the grass or wash the sidewalk. Mom’s tray was at the nurse’s station and Mom was in the dining room. I took both to her room. We opened the blinds, turned off the TV and Mom ate almost all of her chicken and rice, most of the salad and fruit and none of the roast beef. She ate one of Helen’s cookies. I called for help getting her to bed. Franca came and helped Mom into bed. I cleaned Mom’s teeth, glasses and we did some personal care. I gave Tina and Mom some candy. I switched the wreath on the door from flowers to Halloween theme then left about 6:40 PM. 

WED., SEPT. 25 AND THURSDAY, SEPT. 26, 2013

September 25, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM, blinds closed. I fed the birds, washed off the sidewalk and watered the grass. Mom was in the dining room and her tray was in her room. There was a letter for me from the business office, a survey about quality of care. Mom ate well tonight, but slowly. Ketchup, salt, and pepper on the soups and dipping the cornbread in the soup. Med nurse brought some kind of allergy medicine. I gave Tina the flyswatter.  Tina understands what the flyswatter is for. We channel surfed and watched the birds while she ate the NH cookie. I put clean sacks and scarves in her drawer. Anabel came in with a trainee named Yahoo. She and Anabel got Mom ready and put Mom to bed. I returned the tray to the dining room, cleaned Mom’s teeth and put the DVD back on Fred & Ginger. I gave Mom and Tina candy then left about 7:10 PM.

September 26, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH about 10:15 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed, watered the grass and washed off the sidewalk. I went in the front door and left the survey form at the front desk then found Mom alone in the dining room, looking out the floor to ceiling window. I accompanied Mom to the Nail Spa activity in the Great Room. Mom chose blue nail polish this time. I did her nails. The church ladies volunteers were not in evidence. We returned to her room. We did some hair brushing and watching the birds and channel surfed. I gave Mom one of Helen’s cookies. She ate it all.  Then we went to the big TV room. I changed the channel to TCM and left Mom there watching Mickey Rooney. I left a note for the beautician to do Mom’s hair tomorrow, Friday, and reminded the Nurse that I would NOT be here tonight to feed Mom. I left about 11:20 AM.