STILL A ROOM OF HER OWN, DEC. 12 & 13, 2013

The photograph is from Carl.

December 12, 2013, Thursday.  I went to the NH about 10:30 AM and things Did Not go as planned. There was no Nail Spa this morning as volunteers were no show. Activities were conducting some arts and crafts in the Great Room. Mom was in the Big TV room when I came in. We went to the Great Room, got a cup of coffee then returned to Mom’s room where I cleaned and trimmed her fingernails we did some personal care. Mom colored in the coloring book, ate half a banana from Carl and I drew her picture.  We channel surfed and watched the birds. We looked at photos and Mom identified her sisters and parents but not her children in old photographs.  Sam, the social worker, came by and said they may have a roommate for Mom and we talked about how Mom likes, needs, the TV on all night long. Signe, a volunteer with Hospice came by and we chatted. The C.N.A. came and took Mom’s vitals. Mom had a low temp of 99.8. Then Stacy, C.N.A. from Hospice, came and took Mom for a bath. I left about 11:40 AM.

December 13, 2013, Friday. There was a message on my phone this morning from RNC. “This is Not and emergency but call in the morning.”  I spoke to Nurse Jim this morning. He said that Mom fell, slipped out of her chair, onto the floor last night, no injury reported.  This means that Mom may have been left sitting in her chair, alone, in her room? I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. There was bird seed but I added to the vertical feeder. The grass is enjoying the rain. Mom was resting on her bed, DVD turned up, no glasses, teeth in. She was ready to get up and into her chair. A C.N.A. brought her tray. Mom ate all of her potato soup, some okra and potatoes and just a couple of bites of the fried chicken. Then she ate the piece of fig cake I brought from home. We played patty-cake, sang some songs then Mom said she wanted to go to “her bed” and that I should get off her bed. We did some personal care and I looked at the new wound on her right leg. The wound on her L leg is almost healed. Mom had no evidence of fever today. There is still no roommate. Mom still has a room to herself. I put a nightgown on her and helped her to her bed. She was wet so I called for assistance and changed her. A C.N.A. came after I was finished. I cleaned Mom’s teeth, put the DVD back on Fred A & Ginger, and gave Mom a chocolate. She opened it herself. Mom seemed independent today but had trouble with understanding spoken language. It seemed difficulty with hearing today. I took her dirty clothes and left about 6:45 PM.  

TUES., DEC. 10 & WED., DEC. 11, 2013

December 10, 2013. Tuesday. I went to the NH about 4:40 PM. The vertical feeder was on the ground, not broken. I filled the feeders and noted the grass does not look good but the soil is holding. Mom was in the Big TV room, no teeth, glasses on, no sweater, looked cold. I got her a sweater out of the clean clothes I brought then we went to her room. Her tray was in her room. I got hr teeth in and gave her a cap. We saw male & female cardinals out the window. She ate fairly well and Rec. told me that she had been to the birthday party today so she had cake and treats. She ate two of the cookies I brought, too. Then we hung up clothes and I brushed her hair. She kept asking to go, to go, for a ride or to go home. I changed the DVD to Fred A and Ginger and that calmed her somewhat and brushed her hair some more then we went for a walk to the Great room and looked at the Tree, up close. Mom counted the red and green bulbs. Her bird was on the tree but she didn’t recognize it as hers. Tonight is Movie night and Mom said that she wanted to go so I took her to the big TV room and got her a lap blanket. I saw Tina. Mom was very contrary and argumentative initially but the hair brushing, some singing songs and playing seemed to calm her down. By the time I left about 6:30 PM she seemed much more comfortable. 

December 11, 2013, Wednesday. I went to the NH about 4:40 PM. The bird feeders were full, blinds closed. I saw Mom through the window in the Great Room. I took my things to her room then joined her in the Great Room where there was a gentleman at the piano, playing and singing. Mom did not have her teeth in. We sang along then returned to her room. Mom propelled herself part of the way. I spoke to Nurse Steve about Mom’s teeth. Yvonne brought Mom’s tray, told me she had noticed Mom’s teeth and hadn’t disturbed Mom in activities. I turned off the TV. I went to get salt and when I returned, Carl was with Mom preparing fresh flowers for her. We discussed some business and sang some songs. While Carl was with Mom I spoke with Recreation about my upcoming exhibit at OBE and the subject of aging. Carl left then we continued with the meal. Mom was very contrary so we stopped and played patty cake and hand games, then she ate some more. Yvonne came and got Mom’s tray. Mom and I hung up some clean clothes and channel surfed some. Mom wanted to go to bed so I called for help and Nurse Steve came and we started to get Mom to bed. Then C.N.A. Norma came and changed Mom. She put cream on Mom, too. I brushed Mom’s hair and gave her a chocolate. Mom was fidgety and had moments of being argumentative tonight but we parted on good terms. I put the TV back on the Fred A., Ginger R. DVD and left about 6:40 PM.   

SUNDAY, DEC. 8 & MON., DEC. 9, 2013

December 8, 2013, Sunday. Riley called about Noon to say that he would do Mom duty today about 4:30 PM. He also plans on going by earlier.

December 9, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 4:40 PM. The birdfeeder was full, blinds closed. Mom was in the Great Room and there were Carolers from somewhere. We sang the Twelve Days of Christmas, then I accompanied Mom to her room. I noted that Riley had signed in about 3 PM and C.N.A. Yvonne said that he had shown up “at just the right time.” I set Mom up at her table then went and got her tray from the hall cart. Mom used her straw to suck the juice from her chili. The meat/beans in the NH chili are not quality but the juice is pretty good so she sucked it dry. She ate about half her cornbread some of the fried zucchini (mostly the breading) then the 3 teacakes I brought from home. We did some personal care and channel surfed. I returned the tray then we hung up clean clothes I had brought. I called for help and Yvonne came immediately and I assisted changing and putting Mom to bed. Yvonne is very caring and Mom likes her a lot. I put the TV back on the bird DVD, took the dirty clothes, gave Mom a chocolate, and left about 6:30.

FRI., DEC. 6 & SAT., DEC. 7, 2013

December 6, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 4:40 PM today. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was on her bed and her room was COLD! C.N.A. Adam brought Mom’s tray and I helped him change Mom and get her into her chair. I gave her a lap blanket and a hat. She ate well tonight; at least half her beef noodle dish, all of her bread, none of her veggies, and both her chocolate chip cookies. We channel surfed and I soaked and cleaned her fingernails. I went to the nurses station and reported that Mom’s room (205) is COLD. I saw Donna from Rec. and she said that Mom did not participate in activities today. I suspect the cold room keeps Mom in bed. I helped Mom into a nightgown and back into bed. I put extra covers on Mom. I cleaned her teeth, put her O2 on and left about 6:30. EMS was on Unit 2 to transport someone to the hospital. I left Mom watching the American in Paris DVD.

December 7, 2013, Saturday. I telephoned Unit 2 this afternoon and told them that Mom’s room was cold. Nurse Jim told me that Ted the maintenance was on site today and would check it.  I went to the NH about 4:40 PM. The birdfeeders were full, blinds open. I saw that Carl signed in today about 1:30 PM. Mom was on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, teeth in, watching American in Paris DVD. I started to get Mom up but she was very wet so I changed her. Her room is warmer today. We got her into her chair and did some personal care. I went to get Mom’s tray. We channel surfed some while eating then I turned the TV off. Mom ate about half her hamburger some of her salad and fries and all of her ice cream after I crumbled some chocolate into it. When I returned her tray, I saw Nurse Steve and asked him to look at Mom’s wound. He did and it looks good. I changed her sock and noted her foot was blue. Nurse Steve saw that, too. I have advocated for no foot rests on her wheelchair but I think I am wrong about that. We channel surfed some then I assisted Mom back onto her bed, on top of the covers with bedspread and lap blanket over her. I cleaned her teeth, put the O2 on and put the TV back on American in Paris. I left about 6:30 PM.

THURS., DEC. 5 & FRI., DEC 6, 2013

December 5, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH and paid today. I didn’t get a bill this month and Candy Sandlin was not in the office today. I gave the checks to Michael. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM today. There was feed in the feeders, blinds closed. Riley signed in and visited Mom last night about 7 PM. Mom was on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, teeth in, lights out in her room, DVD playing, sound down. Mom did Not want to get out of bed but Yvonne came with Mom’s tray and helped me get Mom up and into her chair. I brushed her hair and we did some personal care then set up for supper. She ate all the broth of the soup, all of her bread and most of her pear. She did not eat the spinach. We went for a walk. I left a “thank you” for the beautician. Mom’s hair still looks really nice from the Tuesday set & wash. We went to the front foyer and looked at the Nativity then back to her room. We hung up a few clean clothes then I assisted her back to bed. I put her nightgown on her, cleaned her teeth and changed the DVD. C.N.A. Mothling came in twice while I was there to see if we needed anything. I left about 6:30 PM. Nelson Mandela died today. There was a pall over many staff today.

December 6, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 4:40 PM today. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was on her bed and her room was COLD! C.N.A. Adam brought Mom’s tray and I helped him change Mom and get her into her chair. I gave her a lap blanket and a hat. She ate well tonight; at least half her beef noodle dish, all of her bread, none of her veggies, and both her chocolate chip cookies. We channel surfed and I soaked and cleaned her fingernails. I went to the nurses station and reported that Mom’s room (205) is COLD. I saw Donna from Rec. and she said that Mom did not participate in activities today. I suspect the cold room keeps Mom in bed. I helped Mom into a nightgown and back into bed. I put extra covers on Mom. I cleaned her teeth, put her O2 on and left about 6:30. EMS was on Unit 2 to transport someone to the hospital. I left Mom watching the American in Paris DVD.

TUES., DEC. 3 & WED., DEC. 4, 2013

December 3, 2013, Tuesday. MOM’S DEVELOPING A BEDSORE! I went to the NH about 5PM today. The birdfeeders were all full. Mom was in bed, O2 on. Someone has removed the extension on Mom’s back rest on her wheelchair and it is much better. She does not need the extended back. Yvonne came and helped me get Mom into her chair then went and got Mom’s tray. Mom ate one of the two tamales, all the tomatoes in the salad, some of the beans and one of the raisin cookies. Carl signed in about 3 PM and had brought fresh flowers. He noted that she had eaten ½ of a banana he had brought today. We channel surfed, talked about birds, played patty cake. She had her hair done today and looks great! When I assisted Mom back into bed, she was wet so I called for help and changed her. Just as I was finishing up, C.N.A. Norma came and I told her about the bedsore and she got some cream out of the drawer and put on her and put on her O2. I cleaned Mom’s glasses and teeth then gave her a chocolate. There was a written report from the social worker, Sam, about Mom’s missing shoe. I changed the TV back to the bird video which Mom requested, turned down the lights and left with Mom’s dirty clothes about 6:50 PM.

December 4, 2013, Monday. I got an email from Regina, at hospice saying that Mom now weighs 117.5. She is pleased with that weight. I went to the NH about 4:45 tonight. There was still bird seed in the feeders, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on but cannula out of place, glasses off, sound down on DVD. I opened the blinds and started to get Mom up but she was wet so I changed her. C.N.A. brought the tray for supper while I was changing her but hurried away and didn’t assist. Her bedsore looks much better. I got Mom into her chair, brushed her hair, found and cleaned her glasses and turned off the TV. Mom says that she went to activities today. She ate about half of her soup, some of the potato salad and some of the bread, all of the cookie and some pieces of pineapple. We looked at pictures. Mom did well at identifying people in the photos but not 100%, just some mild confusion. We played patty cake and I assisted her back into bed. We channel surfed some then I put the TV back on the Winged Migration film. She wanted to watch that. I put the O2 on and cleaned her teeth. I left about 6:45 PM. Mom was alert overall tonight and knew me.

SUN., DEC. 1 & MON., DEC. 2, 2013

December 1, 2013, Sunday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, sound down on the opera and the lights off in her room. Barbara W. from the Episcopalian Ministry came by and visited. It was great to see her. I started to get Mom up but she was very wet so I called for help and started changing her. C.N.A. Adam arrived with Mom’s tray and assisted me in getting Mom changed into her chair. Mom has a new bandage on her leg. Mom ate well, more than half, with added curry to the salad, parmesan cheese for the chili, and honey for the cornbread. A C.N.A. brought a small cup of Boost also. We went for a walk around the facility after supper and Mom propelled herself about half the way. I left a note at the beauty shop asking for a wash & set for Mom (on Tuesday). We went back to her room, channel surfed and then I helped Mom into bed, cleaned her teeth and put on a Fred A. DVD. I also left a note at the Nurse station about the loose connection for the cable TV. I left about 6:30 PM. Mom was alert enough to argue with me today.

December 2, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was in her room on her bed. C.N.A. Adam came and assisted me getting her into her chair and brought Mom’s tray. Mom ate well tonight; half the cheese sandwich, all of the tomato soup and the butterscotch pudding! We channel surfed some and only one bird came to the seed tonight, a white rock dove. We hung up some clean clothes I brought and went for a walk around the facility. Donna told me that Mom was at the music concert this morning. We went to the front foyer and watched the sunset and the cars. Then we went back to her room. Mom propelled herself almost half the way. We looked at photographs and Mom identified family and children correctly. She did not recognize Dad (Al). I assisted Mom into her nightgown and back into bed. I cleaned her teeth, put her O2 on, cleaned her glasses, changed the DVD to Winged Migration. I left about 6:30 PM.