WED., JAN 29 & THURS., JAN 30, 2014

January 29, 2014, Wednesday. I didn’t go to NH today. Carl called about 7:30 PM asking about getting Mom to bed and I explained about teeth cleaning. An email from Regina at Hospice says Mom seems better.

January 30, 2014, Thursday. I went to the NH about 9 AM. Mom was in the big TV room. I got her a hat and said hello then picked up my paintings from Activities. I saw photos of their event yesterday. I returned to the NH about 4:40 PM. I fed the birds, blinds partially open. I went to Mom room and saw Souhange in bed, looking ill. There was a wastebasket with what looked like vomit in it. Mom was in the Great Room eating a banana. Donna from activities said that they had birthday cake also today before the Bingo. I wheeled Mom back to her room and C.N.A. Sandra brought Mom’s tray.    C.N.A. Roxanne came and took Souhange’s temperature and I overheard “no temp.” C.N.A. Sandra returned with a tray of clear soup, jello and such for Souhange. Souhange did not eat and had O2 on. Mom did not eat well. Only a few bites of the chili, half of the cornbread and a few bites of fruit were all she ate. Mom and I hung up clothes, then sang and danced. The birds and the acrobatic squirrel put on a show today. We did some breathing and read a new letter from Quembe.  I returned Mom’s tray to the hall cart. Mom wanted to go to bed and so I assisted her into her nightgown and into bed. I put the DVD back on Fred A/Ginger R. and gave Mom a caramel. I left with dirty clothes to wash. Mom was cheerful and alert to her environment. She could not remember which of her sisters was Quembe’s Mom and could not name her sisters.

MON., JAN 27 & TUES., JAN 28, 2014

This is one of Mom's paintings from years ago. It won't be in the art and craft exhibit but another from the same period.

January 27, 2014, Monday. I did not go to the NH today. I got an email from Regina, Hospice, saying that she planned on visiting Mom today.

January 28, 2014, Tuesday. I talked to Riley and he saw Mom yesterday, cleaned her teeth, checked O2 and DVD. He said that he could see Mom tonight at supper. I went to the NH about 3 PM. I fed the birds blinds closed. I spoke to Donna on the phone this morning and she said Tara might not be in today so I went in to help with activities this afternoon but Tara was there when I got there. I delivered three paintings for their art and craft exhibit tomorrow. Donna went with me to Mom’s room to identify two of Mom’s paintings to include in the exhibit. I won’t be able to come to the exhibit because of work tomorrow. Souhange had a friend visiting and Mom was in bed, O2 on, teeth in, glasses off, and DVD playing. When I cleaned Mom’s glasses a lens popped out and I popped it back in. Good thing she is scheduled to get an optometrist visit soon. Yvonne came and got Mom into her chair. I brushed her hair and gave her a hat then Carl arrived with fresh flowers. He also filled the feeders. The birds and squirrel returned by the time he came inside. I cleaned Mom’s nails and Souhange asked me to clip one of her nails that was snagged. Carl took pictures of me and Mom. Souhange lay down for a nap and I accompanied Mom to the Great Room. We waved at Carl. I got Mom a coffee and left her in activities.  I returned to the room, signed out and left about 3:45 PM.

SAT., JAN. 25 & SUN., JAN. 26, 2014

January 25, 2014, Saturday. I went to the NH about 4:50 PM. I fed the birds, blinds open. Mom was in the dining room. We returned to her room. Mom propelled herself about half the way. I gave Tara the info about the art I will bring on Wed. I hate “one day shows”. Mom’s TV was on TCM. I put the Winged Migration DVD back on for the meal. Yvonne brought Mom’s tray. With two packets of soy sauce, Mom ate pretty well. Mom was contrary at first. I sang a song, brushed her hair and Mom became more pleasant and cooperative. She ate the dessert, ice cream, by herself without assistance. We looked at photos, watched some TV, channel surfed then I noticed the DVD was not playing. So I took that home and changed the DVD to Fred A./Ginger Rogers, Follow the Fleet. We hung up clean clothes. I assisted Mom into bed. Mom’s roommate, Solange Souhami, returned from supper. I cleaned Mom’s teeth, her glasses, put her O2 on and gave her a chocolate. I left about 6:30 PM. Mom had difficulty identifying people in the photos but was pretty good at problem solving and attentive to her environment. She is coughing less.

January 26, 2014, Sunday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was in the big TV room. I took her outside for a few minutes. We just walked around the end of the building and back. The weather is supposed to change tonight so we won’t have another opportunity to go outside for awhile. We went to her room and Adam brought her tray. The TV was stuck so the Parrots of Telegraph Hill doesn’t work anymore. I brought back the bird Migration DVD and it got stuck also. I put Fred A./Ginger Rogers follow the fleet on then put the TV on TCM and My Fair Lady. Mom ate pretty well. She ate all of the potato puree, some of the eggs, about ½ the fried potatoes, and about ½ of the Jello. We sang a little and danced. I brushed her hair. I met Sam, Ms Souhami’s son. He said that French is her first language and told me a little about themselves.  I assisted Mom into bed and changed the TV to the DVD. I cleaned her glasses, her teeth, gave her a chocolate, a caramel and put the O2 on.  I gathered up the dirty clothes and left about 6:30 PM. Mom was contrary and argumentative at first but became more cooperative and pleasant after we sang and danced.

THURS., JAN. 22 & FRI., JAN. 23, 2014

January 23, 2014, Thursday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. Mom was in the big TV room in an outfit I didn’t recognize but it has her name and room number written in the neck. We went to her room and I met her new roommate, a very nice lady whom I can’t understand very well. Staff says that she speaks French and “Swiss” which is actually a German dialect. I noted that Carl had signed Mom's visitor book yesterday. The C.N.A. brought the tray right away and Mom ate well tonight. The TV was on TCM so I put on the Migration DVD and Mom watched the birds while she ate. She ate all of her potatoes, a few bites of bread, some green beans and almost half of her ground meat and gravy. I added salt, 2 packets of ketchup, 2 packets of mustard and some curry. She ate about half of her cake. I noticed that her garbage bags that I use to line the dirty clothes hamper are missing and Ms. Knickerbocker’s quilt is on Mom’s bed. Also there was a dirty diaper sitting on the bedside table. I returned Ms. Knickerbocker’s quilt to the Nurse’s station, threw away the dirty diaper and got a garbage bag from Roxanne to line Mom’s clothes hamper. A C.N.A. came and took Mom’s vitals and Mom was at 92% for her O2 level. We sang some songs and clapped hands then I changed the DVD to Fred A. in Broadway 1940. We hung up some clean clothes and I gathered up her dirty clothes. I called for assistance and helped Mom into bed. I cleaned her teeth and glasses, put the O2 on and left about 6:50 PM. Later I bought another package of garbage bags and wrote “herpes” on 45 of them. I went back to the facility and changed the lining of the clothes hamper to a Glad bag because their bags are too weak. I spoke to Nurse Steve about the theft of the bags.

January 24, 2014, Friday. I went to the NH about 4:50 PM. I fed the birds, blinds half open. Mom was in the dining room so I brought her back to her room. She propelled herself part of the way. Tara reminded me of the Art show on Wed. I met Soulange’s daughter and granddaughter. Soulange, Mom’s roommate, also goes by “Sousou”. Soulange is in a wheelchair but is very self-directed. I put TVLand on the TV then went and got Mom’s tray. Mom ate well tonight; almost all of her potatoes, half of her ground meat, about 1/3 of the peas and all of her lemon tart plus cranberry cocktail. I returned the tray. We looked at photos, clapped our hands and sang some songs. I put the Winged Migration DVD on and Mom wanted to watch that. So I assisted her to bed, cleaned her teeth, her glasses, put her O2 on and gave her a chocolate. I left about 6:30 PM. Mom was alert and attentive today.

TUES., JAN 21 & WED., JAN 22, 2013

January 21, 2014, Tuesday. I went to the NH about 4:50 PM. I fed the birds, blinds half open. I replaced the Christmas wreath on her door with a Spring Flower wreath. Mom was in the Great Room. She said she was thirsty so I got her a coffee and we returned to her room. She drank the coffee all down.  I went and got her tray. Mom ate the liquid, juicy part of the chicken and dumplings, most of the carrots and peas, a few bites of bread and about half of the pears. We sang some songs and clapped and played then channel surfed some. Mom was tired and wanted to go to bed before she finished eating. I called for assistance to put her to bed and Yvonne came right away and got her to bed. I cleaned her teeth and glasses. Yvonne put the O2 on and I noticed the new cap on the O2 and she is getting moisture with her O2 today. Mom may have just been tired but she seemed to not feel well tonight. I left about 6:30 PM.

January 22, 2014, Wednesday. I did not go to the NH today. Email from Regina at Hospice said that Mom’s lungs sounded slightly better and that Mom seemed to feel better.

 

SUN., JAN 19 & MON., JAN 20, 2014

January 19, 2014, Sunday. I went to the NH about 4:45. I fed the birds, blinds closed. Mom was in the big TV room which was very warm. I accompanied her to her room then went and got her tray. She ate about half of her food tonight. I added ketchup and curry to the fish with the tartar sauce. Then added curry and parmesan to the rice. I also added sugar to the fruit crumb dessert. Mom is still coughing and the O2 machine is still bypassing the water bottle. I brought in another pair of pink leggings plus the washed bedclothes. We also hung up some clean clothes. Mom wanted to go to bed the whole time I was there so I called for assistance and helped Mom to bed. She was sopping wet so I changed her and Yvonne came just as I was finishing up. We talked about the O2 machine. I cleaned her teeth, her glasses and gave her a chocolate and a mint and left about 6:30 PM. There was an almond in the chocolate that I didn’t spot and had to get that out of her mouth.

January 20, 2014, Monday. I didn’t go to the NH today. I spoke to Riley and he plans on visiting her today and checking on her tonight. Email from Regina, Hospice, says that she checked on Mom, gave an extra breathing treatment and will follow-up on getting the water bottle on the O2 machine fixed.

FRI., JAN. 17 & SAT., JAN. 18, 2014

January 17, 2014, Friday. I went to the NH about 4:45 PM. I fed the birds, blinds closed. I saw Sam the Social Worker and she said that Mom is going to get a roommate next Thursday, Jan. 28^th. Tara was bringing Mom down from the Great Room with her new hat that she made plus there was another hand crafted hat from paper and bric-a-brac in her room. We went to her room where her tray was waiting for us. Mom didn’t eat well but she did eat some of the baked ziti, all of the tomatoes from the salad, half of her ginger cake, a couple bites of bread and a cookie. Mom was coughing throughout. We channel surfed then went to see Nurse Steve about Mom’s cough.  Steve brought a breathing treatment to Mom’s room and we watched TV while the treatment ran then I took it off and we hung up some clean clothes. I assisted Mom to bed, cleaned her teeth, her glasses and changed her. I put the TV back on the DVD and put her O2 on. I left about 7 PM.

January 18, 2014, Saturday. Carl called from the NH to say that Mom’s O2 machine was broken and he couldn’t get the DVD to play. I told him how to get the DVD to play and it worked but it does sound like the O2 machine is not operating. He informed the staff of the problem. I went to the NH about 5 PM. The feeder was full. I met Mom at her door as she was wheeling herself out of her room, dressed in her nightgown with a sweater. Roxanne came in behind me with set up to clean Mom’s hands and nails because Roxanne had found her without her diaper on in her bed playing with her feces. She had stripped the bed and got Mom cleaned up somewhat, changed. Roxanne cleaned her nails and hands thoroughly, and discarded the equipment thereafter. I put on a pair of leggings I brought and they fit well so I will decorate and label the other three pair and bring them in. Mom was still coughing. She did not eat well tonight but she did eat the pudding and the cookie after some clapping and singing and persuading. Mom said she was tired and wanted to go to bed. I cleaned her teeth and glasses and helped her into bed. We channel surfed and I checked the O2. It was set up to by pass the water bottle so I found Nurse John and he explained that the bottle cap was not working properly but at least now she is getting O2 dry, not humidified. I gave Mom a mint, got the dirty laundry and left about 6:45 PM.