ANOTHER FALL - THURS., OCT. 17, 2013

October 17, 2013, Thursday. RNC (Todd)called about 9:45 AM to say that Mom had another fall, bumped her head and hurt her left elbow. I went to NH about 10:10, fed the birds and found Mom in an activity. Nurse Diane said that Mom had been looking for a way out of the facility all morning. She fell walking to the bathroom with a walker!? I think she must have borrowed Tina’s because hers was still folded up against the wall. I changed DVD to Singing in the Rain. I sat with Mom in the activity and checked her bump on her head and her elbow, which was bleeding slightly with no bandage. We went to Nurse Diane and got it covered then went to the covered patio and sat in the sunlight. Mom asked me “Where’s Melanie?”  I bought Mom some chips then took her to the dining room for lunch. I got her a coffee and left about 11:30 AM. Dr. Fran and Nurse Diane discussed urine analysis from Monday with me which indicated no abnormalities. I saw Hospice C.N.A. Wendy putting diapers in the hospice clients rooms and told her about the labeling. Mom is feeling spunky.

LATER: I went to the NH about 5 PM. I fed the birds, half of the blinds open. Mom was in her room, sitting on her bed back to the windows with her supper tray set-up in front of her. Her teeth were in a cup of water, no glasses and O2 on but the cannula was on her bed beside her. Her bump on her head looks about the same. She had no slacks on and her leg bandage was out of place, loose, but still covering the worst of the wound. She said the room was going round and round and she wanted to lie down. I opened the other half of the blinds, got her on the bed and raised the head of the bed and put the table with supper over her lap. I found her glasses in a drawer, put those on her, put her teeth in, and put the cannula in place on her nostrils. She wasn’t very hungry but I coaxed some of the broccoli & cauliflower down her with parmesan cheese and ketchup, some rice. I returned the tray to the dining room then Mom & I hung up clean clothes. I turned up the sound on the DVD and we watched the birds and talked about the movie. Mom got a card from Quembe which we read and talked about Quembe and OK.  Tina told a different version of Mom’s fall this morning. She says that Mom fell out of her wheelchair on the “hill” going to the Great Room. Tina says that she had her back to Mom so she didn’t see the actual fall. I cleaned Mom’s teeth and left them in the cup with mouthwash and water. I gave Mom a chocolate and a caramel and a sugarless caramel to Tina. Mom did not want me to go and leave her all alone. We looked at all the stuff in her room and channel surfed then back to DVD. I left about 6:30 PM and Mom told me to come straight home after work.

TUES., OCT. 15 & WED., OCT. 16, 2013

October 15, 2013, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 5 PM. Carl’s van was parked in the parking lot and the birdfeeders were full, blinds open. I met Carl on his way out. Mom was on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, DVD playing with sound low. I got Mom into her wheelchair and Yvonne brought the trays for Mom and Tina. I went back and got juice for Tina and Mom. Mom ate the potatoes, a small amount of the chicken & dumplings, a couple of bites of the spinach, and about half of the dessert. There was a banana peel in the garbage so I imagine that Mom had some banana with Carl also. While Mom ate I marked all of the diapers in her corner with a permanent marker with words like “herpes”, “205B”, “genital warts”, ring worm” as an experiment to see if the diapers last any longer. There are twenty in a pack and Mom likely goes through 4 to 6 per day so that is 3 to 5 days worth. I got Mom back on her bed, put the DVD back on, put her O2 on and cleaned Mom’s teeth. I left about 6:30 PM. Mom was very tired today and did not want to sit up to eat, really. I’m beginning to think that she gets more out of my accompanying her to activities than feeding her but who knows?

October 16, 2013, Wednesday. Riley went by earlier today, about 11 AM, and fed the birds and saw Mom. The blinds were half open when I came about 5 PM and I fed the birds again. With the rain, I didn’t need to water the grass or wash the sidewalk. There was confusion about Mom’s tray because I was supposed to go to a concert tonight but it got cancelled so I went to assist Mom. She was on her bed, watching TV, O2 on, glasses off. I cleaned her glasses and got her into her chair. We did some personal care then I got her colors out and left her coloring while I went to find a tray of food for her. I got one (plus a C.N.A. brought one). Mom ate okay tonight. She ate all the corn, some of the salad, some of the spaghetti and about half of the fruit salad. She accompanied me as I returned the tray to the dining room, propelling herself most of the way. There was a choir in the dining room so we watched them. We enjoyed that surprise! Then I pushed her back to her room and assisted her onto her bed. I cleaned her teeth, gave her a chocolate, Tina a caramel, and put the O2 on her. I forgot to put the TV back on the DVD. OOPS! I left about 6:40 PM. Mom was feeling better tonight and had her sense of humor. We talked about her Dad then Mom asked me if my name is “Clark”. I told her no. I talked to Nurse Linda and she said that Mom’s wound is much better and they are not going to have to put her on antibiotics. She said that they have been letting her rest with her leg up. I noticed the new bandage and that she still has plenty of diapers.

SUNDAY, OCT. 13, AND MONDAY, OCT. 14, 2013

October 13, 2013, Sunday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open. I could see Mom eating in bed inside. It is overcast and 5 inches of rain so far in this neighborhood. Just as I was sitting down to assist Mom, a C.N.A. came in intending to assist Mom. She was on her bed, outside the covers, O2 on, a sheet over her lap, a towel on her chest for a bib eagerly eating her soup. She finished it all then I put mustard and ketchup in the tuna salad on the sandwich and she ate most of the salad, not the bread. She did not want the canned peaches dessert but also ate the crackers and a small container of “honey sauce”. We channel surfed, watched the birds and I got out the colors and she and I together colored a bird. We did some personal care and hung up the clean clothes I brought. The med nurse brought her meds. I cleaned her teeth, gave Mom and Tina candy. I got one of her lap blankets out as it was cold in her room. I put on the Bird Migration DVD on and left about 6:30 PM. Mom’s problem solving was low and she seemed lethargic but cheerful.

October 14, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 5 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. It has been raining all day so I didn’t water the grass, etc. Mom was in the Big TV room. No sweater or hat and she said she was cold. It felt cool to me in the room. I accompanied her to her room. C.N.A. Sharon said that Mom’s tray was in her room. In Mom’s room, I noticed that Mom’s wipes were gone and there were no diapers for Mom. I turned off the TV, opened the blinds, got Mom a sweater and hat and set Mom up for supper. She did not eat well tonight. She barely touched the sloppy Joe, ate half the French fries, all four of the fried zucchini slices and both of the cookies. I couldn’t find trash bags to line Mom dirty clothes pail so we went for a walk out to my car and I got a birdseed bag out of the trunk for the dirty clothes pail. We walked around a bit, watched the clouds then went back in. Nurse Linda came to change Mom’s bandage. I got Mom onto her bed, into a nightgown. The wound on her leg looked very bad. Bruising knee to ankle and there was yellowish ooze coming out. Nurse Linda put extra padding on the wound and told me about her problems with her documentation for her education and her inheritance. I told Nurse Linda that I would not be coming on Wednesday. I didn’t change Mom although she was wet because there were no diapers. Mom’s bed did not have a top sheet so I got one and made her bed then got out one of the lap blankets to put over the bedspread because her room was cold. I cleaned Mom’s teeth. I gave Tina and Mom candy. I got Mom’s dirty clothes and left about 7:10 PM.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11, AND SATURDAY, OCT. 12, 2013

October 11, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 5:15 PM. I fed the birds, washed off the sidewalk and watered the grass. Rain is predicted but who knows? Mom was in the big TV room and she was glad to see me. I noticed her upper dentures missing. I found them in her pocket wrapped in a napkin. I accompanied her to her room. Her supper was there on her table. BarBQ, potato salad and beans served tonight in honor of the outdoor party and dance in the back parking lot tonight. There was water all over the floor near the flowers and the plastic utensils for Mom were melted, fused. I set up Mom with a spoon I found in the drawer then went for functional utensils and a drink, juice. Nurse Diane accompanied me to Mom’s room and cleaned up the spilled water and stayed and visited for a bit.  Mom asked to sit facing the window, noting the comings and goings outside, more than usual. Mom ate all of the potato salad, some of the beans, a few bites of the brisket, and all of the ice cream. Then I called for assistance to change Mom and a C.N.A. came right away. We got Mom changed and when we changed her slacks I noticed her wound on her right leg was bleeding under the bandage. The C.N.A. said that it was Not normal and that she would tell the Nurse. We went outside to the festivities. Mom enjoyed seeing the excitement, the weather was pleasant and we got our picture taken. A lot of the staff were there helping out. Then Mom said that she wanted to go home and watch TV. She had complained of feeling dizzy. We returned to her room and I helped her get into bed, turned on the DVD of Top Hat and I cleaned her dentures. I mentioned the problem with Mom’s bandage to Nurse Linda then left about 6:50 PM.

October 12, 2013, Saturday. I went to the NH about 5 PM. The birdfeeder was full and the grass was watered, blinds open. Mom was in her room, in her w/c, sound down on the TV and her O2 cannula on her bed, O2 pump on. Tina said that Mom had taken it off. Mom told me she was ready to go home. I saw that Riley had signed in and visited today. We hung up the clean clothes I brought then I set her up for supper. The trays had not come. Nurse Steve came in and asked if Tina had eaten much and we said “no food yet”. Mom and I looked at photos and cards, did some personal care. I checked the wound on her leg and it had a more serious bandage on it today. Tina said it squirted blood everywhere when they changed it. The trays came about 5:35 PM. Mom ate some of her French fries and salad and a few bites of the hamburger meat and both of her cookies. When I returned Mom’s tray to the dining room, Nurse Steve asked how she ate and I asked Nurse Steve to give Mom a Boost later. We channel surfed and watched the birds some. I put on a new DVD, Swing Time. Mom seemed a little more alert today and said several times that she was ready to go home so I told her that she was home. She said she wanted to go for a walk then changed her mind and wouldn’t go. So I assisted her into bed, cleaned her teeth and gave her the O2.  I left about 6:50 PM.

THURSDAY, OCT. 10, 2013 - ANOTHER FALL

October 10, 2013, Thursday. Nurse Diane called about 9:10 AM to say that Mom fell last night about 10:40 PM. The night nurse heard Mom calling and found Mom on the floor on her back. Mom said that she was picking something up. I went to the NH about 10:15 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I stopped by the office to exchange checks but I didn’t have a new Trust check in the check book and Ms Sandlin wasn’t in so we didn’t do it. I talked to Nurse Diane about Mom’s fall and about her continued weight loss then went to Mom’s room. She was sleeping with O2 on, glasses on, teeth in and sound down on TV. I opened the blinds and Mom awoke. I tried to get her up to go to Nail Spa activity but she complained of dizziness and did not want to get out of bed, seriously. Her wounds on Right leg, left arm were bandaged with clear coverings. I cleaned her glasses, turned up the sound then spoke with Nurse Diane. Nurse Diane and C.N.A. came to her room and noted bruise left side of her head. Nurse Diane said she would speak with Doctor Maxwell later today. I gave Mom water, a caramel, adjusted her bed and the sound on the TV and left about 10:30 AM.

LATER: I went to the NH about 5:10 PM. The birdfeeder was full. Mom was in her room, in her w/c, O2 on, with her tray eating her soup. I sat down and accompanied her. She was chewing up then spitting out the remnants. I got her to swallow by adding ketchup then put some salt on the spinach and she ate some of that. She ate all of her fruit and the cookie I brought to her. Mom was somewhat disoriented and told me that she had seen Melanie today. Also she thought Carl was on TV. Granted there was a man with a beard in a show on Tina’s TV. Carl had brought fresh flowers and clean vase today. Tina reported that Mom had been calling out for Cynthia, also, and asked me “Who is Cynthia?” I said that she is the prettiest one. The toilet was stopped up. I reported it and Nurse Linda took a plunger to it. Later housekeeping came and mopped up the mess. Mom didn’t want to go for a walk but just wanted to go to bed. I called for assistance but no one came. I got Mom into bed and changed. Mom expressed trepidation about the edge of the bed, a fear of falling so I lowered the bed and left it very low to the ground. We watched the birds and channel surfed then I left about 6:45 PM.

Photo courtesy of Carl today.

TUESDAY, OCT. 8 & WED., OCT. 9, 2013

October 8, 2013, Tuesday. Nurse Linda called last night to say that a huge bruise has developed on Mom’s left knee.

 I called the NH this morning and left a message in Candy Sandlin’s voice mail to not deposit that check. I also went by about 9:30 AM but Ms Sandlin wasn’t in. An email from Regina, Hospice nurse this morning says that the big bruise looks okay, that mom’s breathing is good but she continues to lose weight. She is down to 116 lbs.  I called the facility about 2 PM and spoke with Mike, assistant administrator about the check. He found it and put it aside for me to discuss with Candy later. Candy is out sick today. I went to the NH about 5:15 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open, washed the sidewalk and watered the grass. When I went to Mom’s room the door was closed and 2 C.N.A.s were in the room, changing Mom and getting her up. One left to get the supper trays for Tina & Mom and I assisted getting Mom up. We watched the birds and did some personal care. Mom ate all of her tamales with ketchup, but a few bites of the cream of broccoli soup and the butter beans. The salad had hot peppers on it and was too spicy. She ate one of the ginger cookies. We hung up the clean clothes I brought. We channel surfed and watched the birds then I assisted Mom into nightgown and to bed. I left the TV on the Top Hat DVD. Mom was in a good humor tonight. The bruise on her left knee is enormous, quite impressive. I talked to Nurse Linda briefly. She had all new C.N.A.s on the unit. I left about 7 PM.

October 9, 2013, Wednesday. I went to the NH about 5:15 PM. I fed the birds, blinds half open. The vertical birdfeeder was full and there was still feed in the horizontal feeder and the grass was watered. Mom was in her room, in bed, in nightgown with a student sitting with her assisting her eating supper….in bed! I got Mom a bib and took over. Mom was eating her veggie soup well. I added salt, pepper and ketchup to the potatoes and she ate them all plus some of the ground beef and almost all of the soup. She ate the chocolate cake I brought, too. I couldn’t find her glasses and went to the nurse station and asked for help finding the glasses. The C.N.A. came with the student and we found them in Mom’s armpit. Really. I also found the sign-in pad we had lost. It was behind the TV. We did some personal care, channel surfed and watched the birds. I left about 6:30 PM. Mom seemed tired and there is a new bruise on her left thumb. She said it doesn’t hurt.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 & MON., OCT. 7, 2013

October 6, 2013, Sunday. Nurse called and said that Mom slid out of her w/c this morning at an activity in the Great Room. The nurse examined Mom and found no evidence of injury. My hunch is that Mom wanted to leave the piano concert and her wheels were locked. She is not much of a morning person. Just a hunch. I went to the NH about 5 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. We had ½ inch of rain last night so the grass was watered. I found Mom in her room with her food (no tray) on the table in front of her. According to Tina I was wrong about Mom’s brakes. From Tina’s description it sounds like her brakes were off and she tried to stand up but who knows? The pianist scheduled this morning didn’t show up and the UT business women’s club didn’t show up this afternoon, so I was told. (ACL Fest is in town?) Mom had finished half of her ice cream. I put the rest aside and Mom ate some cornbread and all the salad. The chili wasn’t good even with ketchup. I gave her some graham crackers and a cookie to eat with the rest of the ice cream. Then we went for a walk. We set off the alarm going out but walked around the building, after sitting in the lovely evening, to the employee’s entrance on unit I and no alarm when we went in. I asked the Nurse and she said that entrance is not alarmed!!. Very interesting. I accompanied Mom to her room and the C.N.A. Rowanda came and assisted getting Mom into bed and changed. I turned on the Brigadoon DVD and the birds came back. I left about 6:40 PM. Nurse Linda told me that C.N.A.s Anabel and Frank had left which is unfortunate. She said everybody cried but the pay is not good at RNC. The atmosphere is very homey and caring but they are having financial difficulty. I know Seton is in trouble and RNC is having difficulty with their relationship with Seton.  Plus the State of Texas cuts.

October 7, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 4:15 today. First I went to see Candy Sandlin about Mom’s Trust account. After some examination of the records, I wrote RNC a check for the accidentally accumulated funds from the reduced expense for Medicare part D for 5 or 6 months in 2012 in the amount of $185.58. Then I went to the back, fed the birds, blinds open, washed the sidewalk and sprinkled the grass. There was birdseed in the tall feeder and the grass had been watered. Riley visited today around 1 PM. Mom was on her bed watching TV, sound down, O2 on. The C.N.A. brought Tina’s and Mom’s trays about 4:40 PM. Mom ate all of her tomato soup, most of the cheese sandwich and some of the potato soup. I added salt and pepper and a few corn chips. She did not eat her pudding but did eat some of the cookie. Annie from Rec. came by and visited. I returned her tray to the dining room then I helped Mom back onto her bed. I changed the DVD to Top Hat and left about 6:45 PM. Mom was alert, cheerful and indicated some self direction tonight.