THURSDAY, JUNE 27, FRIDAY, 28 AND SATURDAY, 29, 2013

June 27, 2013 Thursday. I went to the NH about 10:15 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was in the big TV room with other residents. I accompanied Mom to dining room II for Nail Spa. Mom chose a red/pink color today. After getting her nails done, we returned to her room and hung up her clean clothes. She did some problem solving. She was uneven in perceptions. We watched the birds. I changed the DVD to Cast Away and did some channel surfing. Nurse Audra took her vitals which were “good”. I accompanied Mom to the dining room and got her some juice. I left about 11:40 AM.

Later in the day I talked to the Dental Care people about Mom’s teeth. The financial officer said that if Medicaid does not replace the teeth, the NH had told her that they would pay for replacement.

June 28, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 11:20 AM. There was birdseed in the feeder, blinds closed. I had spoken to Riley on the phone earlier about going by and feeding the birds because my car with the birdseed wouldn’t go.  Mom was resting on her bed, DVD playing, sound down, no socks so I checked her feet. I cut her toenails and put cream on her feet and legs. I got her up then noted she was very wet. A C.N.A. came and we changed Mom. We changed her dress and got her into her chair. Mom & I did some personal care and I changed the DVD. We watched the birds and saw parrots. I couldn’t get the bed to raise the head or foot and reported that to Nurse Diane. I accompanied Mom to the dining room for lunch. I took Mom’s dirty clothes home and left about 12:20 PM. I got a phone call about 12:45 PM from the repairman from Hospice who said that he could find nothing wrong with the bed.

June 29, 2013, Saturday. I went to the NH about 3:20 PM today. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I took the clean clothes to Mom’s room but she wasn’t there. I found her in dining room II where the Backyard Boys and One Girl were getting ready to play.  Mom and I went to the big window and watched the birds and I got Mom a coffee. We then went to a table and listened to the music. I went to Mom’s room during the music and hung up her clothes, got her a candy and returned to the performance. They were good, violin, flute, two guitars and singing, mostly traditional folk, country (Oh them Golden Slippers). I left Mom at the entertainment at about 4:10 PM. Mom was not very responsive today and seemed to be coughing a bit.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25 & WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013

June 25, 2013, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 10:15 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed, DVD playing, sound down, no O2, no glasses. I got Mom into her w/c and we did some personal care. I gave Mom a baby banana which she ate while we watched the birds and channel surfed. We went for a walk to the administration offices and talked about Mom’s teeth. Then we got a coke from the machine and I accompanied Mom back to her room. We hung up some clothes. Mom did fairly well at problem solving today. I got Mom back onto her bed with her Dr. Pepper on a table and changed the DVD. I left about 11:15 AM.

June 26, 2013, Wednesday. I went to the NH about 2:40 PM. I fed the birds although I didn’t have enough birdseed. The blinds were closed. When I entered the facility Nurse Diane informed me that Mom had a skin tear on her shin from yesterday afternoon. The door to Mom’s room was closed and Yvonne had just gotten Mom up then took her vitals. I checked her skin tear. It looked fine, bandaged. Mom had fresh flowers and I noted that Carl had visited yesterday. I accompanied Mom to dining room II for watercolor activity. She painted a field of red tulips. I went home and got more birdseed then returned. Mom was working on making lavender sachet and limes with cloves. Mom was in a contrary mood today but still jolly. I left Mom just as they were starting the sing-a-long activity about 4:30 PM.

SATURDAY, June 22, SUNDAY, June 23 & MONDAY, June 24, 2013

June 22, 2013, Saturday. I went to the facility about 10 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I gave Nurse Audra a copy of Bloody Wymmin #3. Mom was resting on her bed, no O2, glasses on, no teeth, DVD on, sound down. C.N.A. Dalmaccio came in and I assisted him in changing Mom. We got Mom into her w/c and did some personal care. Mom & I watched the birds, channel surfed then put the DVD back on, sound up. Mom said she had not seen this movie. Mom & I went to dining room II. Mom worked with building blocks and I got her a coffee. They were out of cream. The Christ Apostolic representatives were there singing and praying. Mom and I clapped along with the music. We returned to her room. I put her on her bed and noted no bedspread. Mom watched the birds. Two parrots came. I left DVD playing, sound up, about 11:30 AM.

June 23, 2013, Sunday. I went to the NH about 3:40 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on but the cannula was not in her nose, no glasses, DVD on, sound down, bed very high. Mom said she did Not want to get up. I opened the blinds we watched the birds. I noted the lovely new flowers from Carl. Yvonne came in and we got Mom up and into her w/c. We looked for her teeth some more, Yvonne with a flashlight. We did some personal care then went for a walk around the facility. Mom had a coffee. We returned to her room. Tina told me that Mom had gotten a letter. There was a letter from Quembe about their near miss of the tornado on May 31. We read the letter and talked about Quembe. We channel surfed then Mom to the dining room to await supper. I left about 5:40 PM.

June 24, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 9:50 AM. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on,

DVD on, sound down, glasses on. Mom was awake but said she did not want to get up. C.N.A. Ugonna came in to take her O2 level and assisted getting Mom into her w/c. Mom’s O2 was at 93 (good). We did some personal care, watched the birds and I gave Mom a chocolate. No teeth, still. I got Mom’s laundry ready to go home, inspected it at home and no teeth in the laundry. We went to dining room II and a volunteer got Mom a coffee. The residents exercised and played games while I sketched portraits of three residents; Pat, Bob (the Silver Star recipient) and Max, who is blind. Max said he will give it to his granddaughter. I accompanied Mom back to her room, put on a different Fred A. movie and left her in her w/c, wheels locked, coloring the bird coloring book. I left about 11:30 AM.

Mom is still cute without her teeth.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 AND FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2013

June 20, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH about 10 AM. I fed the birds, blinds open, waved at Mom in bed. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on, DVD on, sound up, glasses on, No Teeth. No teeth to be found in her room. I called for help to change Mom and get her up. Dalmaccio came and finished changing Mom and told me they had been looking for Mom’s teeth. I asked if they had checked the garbage. He said no. Dalmaccio said that the hospice C.N.A. had discovered the missing teeth when she took Mom for her bath this morning. We did some personal care. I brought another tube of Udder Cream from home. We watched the birds, channel surfed then went to dining room II where a volley ball game was in progress. Mom wanted to play. She was happy and enthusiastic. I left her there, searched her room some more, talked with staff and left about 11:10 AM.

June 21, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 9:30 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I noted Riley signed Mom’s guest book yesterday. Later on the phone he said he accompanied Mom to Bingo yesterday and she won a banana which she ate. I took her a banana this morning. She ate about 1/3. Mom was resting on her bed. C.N.A. Mary came and changed Mom and got her into her wheelchair. Hospice C.N.A. came by and talked to me about the loss of Mom’s teeth. She mentioned that Mom’s hair had smelled of perm recently. We did some personal care, watched the birds, channel surfed then went to the beauty parlor for Mom’s appointment. Beautician Margaret wet Mom’s hair and demonstrated that Mom’s hair had curl. She rolled Mom’s hair and put Mom under the dryer. Mom was pretty good but sitting under the dryer was a challenge for her. I returned to her room and did some cleaning up, got the four leg attachments out of her room and gave to Nurse Eglise at nurse’s station. Mom’ finished at the beauty parlor and Mom looked lovely with her new do. I talked with Nurse Diane and Nurse Audra and C.N.A. Mary about the loss of Mom’s teeth. Nurse Diane still wants to hear back from laundry. I accompanied Mom to the dining room for lunch and left about Noon.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18 AND WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013

June 18, 2013, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 11 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed.  Riley[‘s name was on the guest book from yesterday, 5 PM. Mom was resting on her bed. We opened the blinds and watched the birds. Tina the RN from Hospice came and took Mom’s vitals. Mom vitals were good except for irregular heartbeat which is persistent. She assisted getting Mom in the w/c. We hung up clothes. RN Tina assisted with that task also and Mom was fairly good at problem solving. Roommate Tina mentioned problems with Mom’s bed lurching. I set the brakes on the casters which were off and we noted that not all 4 wheels have brakes. Mom and I did some personal care then went for a walk. We retrieved a crepe myrtle blossom knocked down by the morning storms. We walked around the facility and stopped at the spinet and played some scales and arpeggios. I left Mom in her place for lunch then made an appointment for Mom to get a permanent on Friday, 10:30 AM. I left with dirty laundry about 12:10 PM.

June 19, 2013, Wednesday. I went to the NH about 2:30 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open. As I was entering I saw C.N.A. Dalmaccio leaving. I signed the guest book and saw that Carl had visited and also the Hospice SW. Carl had emailed me that he had visited, found O2 off and set it right with cannula in place. Mom was resting on her bed, sopping wet. I called for help. No one came so I changed her myself and noted the rash has cleared up. There were no baby wipes so I wet some paper towels from the bathroom to clean her. She had a small BM. Her TV was set to Fox. I changed the channel, we watched the birds and did some personal care. Mom was contrary today. We went to dining room II and did some watercolors. Mom did a “Flowers By The Sea” and gave it to another resident, Bob or Bill, the gentleman who had won a Silver Star at D-Day in 1944. Pat got Mom a coffee. Then they began a “Cooking with out a kitchen” activity and I left. I changed her TV back to the DVD before I left about 3:40 PM. I reported the lack of baby wipes. 

SAT., JUNE 15; FRIDAY, JUNE 16; AND MONDAY JUNE 17, 2013

June 15, 2013, Saturday. I went to the NH about 11 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I assisted C.N.A. Hammah in changing Mom and getting her a clean dress. Mom & I watercolored with the Peerless watercolors I brought. Mom did well, painting in the negative space. I accompanied Mom to the dining room for lunch. I left about 12:10 PM.

June 16, 2013, Sunday. I went to the NH about 3:15 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed. I got Mom into her w/chair. We did some personal care, watched the birds then went to the dining room II for the Father’s Day Party and Ice Cream Social. Bob Appel entertained with C & W music, guitar and singing. Carl and Charlotte came and we all had ice cream, cookies and a drink. Mom stirred her ice cream to a pudding before eating. No cold tolerance? I sketched Bob. Carl brought bumper stickers that said “Your Blinker is Broken”. Mom & I went up to the entertainer afterwards and gave him a bumper sticker and I gave him the sketch. It was a fun afternoon. Carl, Charlotte & I accompanied Mom to dining room for supper then Carl and Charlotte left. Then I took her to the big TV room to wait because it will be awhile before supper is served. I left Mom in the big TV room. Carl gave me one of Dad’s suits for Riley and a bumper sticker for me. Charlotte said she heard the parrots but didn’t see them. They have a distinctive “song”. I left about 5:15 PM. 

June 17, 2013, Monday. I went to the NH about 9:50 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was sound asleep, O2 on, no glasses, sound down on DVD. I opened the blinds, Mom awoke and objected to the light. So I closed the blinds, got Mom her glasses, turned up the TV and raised the head of her bed at her request. Mom did not want to get up. I left her sleeping and went to dining room II and sketched residents. Today I drew Isabella, Jean, and Marietta.  I returned to Mom’s room where Mom was still sleeping and did not want to get up. I left about 11:15 AM.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 AND FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

June 13, 2013, Thursday. I went to the NH about 10 AM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I saw the C.N.A. Flo in the hallway and she assisted mom in getting out of bed and into her w/c. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, DVD playing, sound down. We did some personal care, watched the birds and channel surfed some. I changed the DVD to South Pacific. I accompanied Mom to dining room II for the Nail Spa. She propelled herself most of the way. Mom chose blue fingernail polish today. Mom said she wanted to go “home” after polishing her nails. I accompanied her back to her room. By all indications, today “home” meant her room. I gave Mom a chocolate and a sugarless candy to Tina. Mom got into bed, mostly independently, and I turned up the sound. Mom said that she wanted to watch South Pacific. I left about 11:15 AM.

June 14, 2013, Friday. I went to the NH about 2:40 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was resting on her bed, O2 on, glasses on, DVD playing, sound down. I started to get Mom up but the C.N.A. came in and suggested that we change Mom. During the change, the C.N.A. and I both noted the dramatic increase in redness in diaper rash area. We got Mom up. Mom & I did some personal care, watched the birds then I accompanied her to dining room II for the music and Flag Day celebration coffee hour. Mom and I clapped and sang along then I left about 3:50 PM. I spoke with Nurse Luz and Nurse Diane about Mom’s rash before I left. I fed the birds again. From home I sent an email to Mary Gilmore of Hospice, also, about the rash.