Sat 7/30/22

 

Fri 7/29/22

 Today Bob visited and spent all day with mom   She was very happy  

Wed 7/27/22

 

Tue 7/26/22

Today mom was waiting for lunch when I got there.  I gave her the Rapunzel doll she wanted from when Tina was here.  She hugged it.  More than once.  I told her I was going to her room to put in a new password for her gmail.  (Needed my phone to do this). So I did that, headed back to the dining room and she was headed to her room.  I said are you done with lunch already?  She said yes.  Heather and Hannah said yes she ate really fast.  So I pushed her back to her room and pulled her up to her computer.  I read to her two emails from Kathy and one from aunt honey.  After that she said she wanted to go to sleep.  So I reminded her to press her button for help even though I could have helped her.  The staff wants us to continue to reinforce to her that she must always press her button to transfer in and out of bed.  She had a hard time today using her arms to help stand up.  Heather pretty much had to lift her herself.  While I was leaving I asked Hannah if she’d gone to activities today.  She said no, that she was giving her a shower at that time.  

Today I had two calls - one from St. Peter’s asking if mom has moved.  I said yes, Marie said she’d have Father John put mom on his list to visit.  The other from the Fucci Company asking if mom was still wanting a place to live at one of their facilities.  I said no.  I filled out moms application more than 2 years ago.  Too late now.  Also I took care of a hairdresser for mom - Kandi will go next Tuesday between 9 and 9:30.  I let Jeanette know.  

Mon 7/25/22

Today mom was asleep when I got there.  I woke her up to go to activities.  She had told Bridget and Heather no, but I told her we were going.  So when we got to the library, George had already started, but mom joined in.  Within just a few minutes, she unlocked her brakes, and I said wait what are you doing.  She said going to my room.  I said well it’s not over yet.  She said yes.  After exercises it was time for bingo.  Oh what patience George has.  I kept telling mom to stop cheating.  Just trying to get people to laugh.  Some did.  Anyway, mom won the first game.  She reached in the prize box and took a bag of gummie treats, which I thought not a good choice, (her lack of teeth) so handed her junior mints.  She opened them immediately, I gave her 5 or 6, and told her I’d bring them to Bridget to put her name on them for snack time.  One more game of bingo, and it was time for them all to go to the dining room.  

This afternoon, the VNA OT called and asked me to get brake extensions for her wheelchair for independent management to prevent falls.  This reminded me to call her doctor to check on the wheelchair prescription mom received on the 9th.  The wheelchair John and I got is a one- month rental from Keene.  I called Dr Graves-Austin office and was told the prescription was sent to Rutland Pharmacy on the 11th.  They will call in the extensions prescription to RP.  

I told mom Kandi Ross will be coming to cut her hair next week.  

Sun 7/24/22

Bridget was with mom when I arrived.  She had helped her shower.  I logged on to her computer but surprise surprise couldn’t remember her gmail password.  And to set a new one I needed my cellphone to get access to my email. I cried uncle and said to myself:  tomorrow.

I brought her down to the living room to try to get her used to spending time there.  Carol, John, and one other resident were there watching MASH on the tv.  I positioned mom in her wheelchair next to the couch and pulled a chair up to sit next to her.  Within 5 seconds, she said “I don’t like MASH”.  It struck me so funny.  Carol laughed and told me it’s her favorite show.  I told mom that I’m sure they take turns choosing what to watch.  Bridget told her she can choose after lunch.  

I brought mom a book to look at about Dian Fossey and gorillas, since she was annoyed with MASH.  

After she finished looking at the book, I brought her to the dining area to wait for lunch.  

Sat 7/23/22

 Mom was in the dining room when I arrived.  It was very hot but she wanted to go outside, so I told her a short one.  She wanted a blanket.  I’d brought the Downton abbey book that Sarah gave her a few years ago.  She went through it page by page and I talked about each character.  She remembered a lot of them which surprised me.  She was more alert today.  

Later Janette called and said she fell again.  An aide had taken her to the bathroom, then tucked her into bed.  Went back to the nurses station, and her bed alarm went off.  The aide went back and mom was on the floor.  She said she had to go to the bathroom.  They checked her over and she was ok.  If this continues, she will have to stay in the living room more often so they can be closer to her.  

Fri 7/22/22

 Once again John got mom to activities.  Bridget has returned which is wonderful.  

Wed 7/20/22

Tina and her family visited.  Mom was very happy to see her.  It was very hard for Tina, but what a wonderful wonderful visit.  There were lots of tears shed by Tina. And me.  

Yesterday mom fell again.  She keeps thinking she has to go to the bathroom.  She was ok.  

Sat 7/16/22, Sun 7/17/22, Mon 7/18/22

Saturday when I got there, I told mom we were going outside again for a walk.  We walked all the way around to the back as far as we could go,  I didn’t know there was a gazebo out there.  Mom kept wanting to hold Molly.  

On Sunday, Heather wanted me to see a sore on moms foot from a bunion.  She was concerned about it.  

On Monday I went with John to a mass at St. Peter’s for John’s mom.  It’s been 1 year since she passed.  It made me remember how at her funeral during the procession, I spotted mom (with Trudy, who was super wonderful to take her) and she was smiling broadly.  It was so out of character for her, another indication of her mentally declining.  

Later I went to see her and saw that her foot looked swollen.  Bob her OT was there and had been observing her, and will see her 1-2 times a week.  He told me he’d helped her last year at her house, and said there had been quite a mental deterioration.  We looked at her foot and I called her doctor, left a message.  They called back and said if it’s bad to go to the ER.  Janette came in, checked her out, vitals good.  She suggested urgent care.  So Janette got her into my car.  Mom repeatedly asked me where I was taking her.  We got inside, registered, waiting, and mom said she had to p.  I asked for a nurse to help her, but no one available.  Mom had just gone before we left, so I knew she didn’t really have to go.  Sometimes if I drop it, she will forget about it.  It’s an obsession for her.  She kept repeating “it’s hard to wait” to the amusement of others in the waiting room.  A PA saw her, and prescribed an antibiotic cream and oral antibiotic.  I texted John to help me get her back in the car plus the wheelchair is heavy, my back is acting up.  John came and i brought her back, having texted Janette to help me when I arrive, which she did.  I gave her the instructions and cream and bandages.  

Thursday 7/14/22

Today John visited mom.  He woke her up and said you are going to Activities.  These smiles from her are great.  Remind me of the way mom used to look.  

Mon - Tue - Wed 7/11, 7/12, 7/13/22

 Today is Wednesday and the days fly by. 

On Monday moms bed felt wet where she sits on it, so I changed the bed while Hannah took mom into the bathroom and changed her pants.  We looked at one of her photo books together.  I couldn’t find her roku remote, so Hannah helped me with her phone.  I asked mom if she’d like Dr. Quinn and she said yes.  

On Tuesday, she was in her wheelchair in the dining room when I arrived.  Her head was in her hands.  I said mom how are you feeling?  She said “terrible”.  She’s never said that since she’s been there.  I sat down next to her and asked her why she felt terrible.  She said because they won’t let me go to my room.  I said I wonder why they said that, not expecting an answer.  But she said because I have to pee so much.  I hid my smile. I told her that they are very concerned about her falling again.  They are just trying to take good care of her.  She said yes.  I told her none of us want her to get hurt when she falls, plus it must be frightening for her.  She said yes.  So then I said, would you like to go outside?  She said yes.  So… out we went and we weren’t out there long and she said “this is delightful”. That was so nice to hear.  After a while she said she was tired and wanted to go to her room.  So we went back in.  Hannah helped me put Dr Quinn on for her, and she laid down to go to sleep.  Her roku remote is still missing.  

Today, Heather let me in and told me that her PT had just left.  When I got to her room, she was in her bathroom with Hannah. When she came out and saw me, I said how about going outside again.  She said yes.  So Hannah said let’s put her foot rests on.  I asked her to show me how they go on, and then come off.  Looks easy enough 🤷🏼‍♀️.  So out we went for another nice walk.  We stopped a few times because she wanted to hold molly.  I asked her if her PT went good.  She said yes, and that she knew him and remembered him from before.  And that she liked him.  She threw me because she articulated herself pretty well.  I smiled with gratefulness.  We walked around until she asked me to take her back because she was tired.  Before going in I said let’s just sit here for a bit.  She said yes.  So i pointed out the beautiful view and then after a few minutes she said she wanted to go in.  So back to her room, and I was able to get the foot rests off (yay) and she got into bed.  She had been rubbing her knee while outside, and I asked her if it hurt and she said yes.  So I told her I was going to go ask if she could get Tylenol or Advil.  Hannah went to check and Heather told me that she wasn’t surprised because she’d walked quite a bit with her PT.  Hannah came back with the med for her and got Dr. Quinn on - mom had asked for the Medicine Woman.  Still no roku remote.  When I kissed her goodbye, she about killed me - she asked “do you promise that you’ll come back?”  I said of course.  

Weekend 7/9/22 & 7/10/22

Saturday I went to vista to meet Janelle.  She’d told me that she’d met John and me at mom’s house in January of 2021.  She told me that I had a cough, but I’d been tested for Covid and it was negative.  I laughed and said yup that was definitely me.  She was surprised to hear that it wasn’t until May that the cause - acid reflux - was finally diagnosed.  

I liked her very much, she was great with mom.  Checking her over, engaging with her, helping her to and in the bathroom.  She also had her walk with her walker with the wheelchair right behind her in case of a loss of balance.  She talked with Janette and they made the decision that for now the walker is out of moms room, wheelchair only.  Plus Janelle took the footrests off it, so mom won’t trip on them if she tries to get out of bed to sit on it before help arrives.  In talking about it, we decided to put the brakes on too, so that it won’t move, plus mom won’t try to push it herself. 

Sunday John came with me to visit her.  They told us that the locking the wheelchair didn’t work very well.  She’s been caught using it as a walker - with the brakes on!  I read her emails to her, then she wanted to sleep.  

Fri 7/8/22

I forgot to mention on yesterdays post that mom is forgetting to ring her button for help getting up and that’s how she fell again.  

Today mom had her first appointment with her new doctor.  I was still in new haven, so Kenny came and met Luis who transported mom at noon at community health.  Kenny said the appointment went fine and he liked her doctor.  She wrote a prescription for a wheelchair.  He was impressed with Luis - he said that he picked mom right up no problem getting her in and out of his vehicle!

And mom got 2 more fish filets - lol - she told Kenny that’s what she wanted since she missed lunch at Vista.  Kenny visited with her for a while.  

Thurs 7/7/22

Today I left for new haven at 7.  Around 9:30 I noticed my cellphone that Janette was calling.  I took a deep breath and answered.  Mom fell again.  A large goose egg appeared quickly on the back of her head.  Because mom doesn’t officially have a doctor right now, she can’t call the doctor for instructions, so she will call an ambulance.  I called John, he said don’t worry he will take care of it.  

Hours later, John let me know all tests came back negative, and he would drive her back.  

Later still he said he followed my lead and bought her 2 fish filets.  Lol.  

A Nurse from VNA, Janelle, called and made an appointment with mom for Saturday at 10.  

Vista - Wed 7/6/22

 Today we were waiting to hear from Keene.  I had told Janette we’d have it there this morning.

Finally around 10:30 I started calling Keene.  No answer or answer and hang up.  Finally at 11, we said let’s just go.  So we got there and it was busy so we waited quite a while.  Anyway, after dumb ridiculous red tape, we finally walked out of there with a wheelchair at 12:10.  Ugh.  

Up at vista, we saw George, Hannah, and Heather.  Poor Charlene looked and spoke like she was having a bad day.  Hannah and Heather showed us how to adjust the wheelchair.  Down to Moms room.  She was was asleep.  John thought we shouldn’t wake her.  I was torn.  I won’t see her tomorrow or Friday because I’ll be in new haven. So as I was deciding and realizing she had to wake for lunch, she woke up haha.  I asked her if she wanted to try the wheelchair we picked up for her.  She said yes.  She was able to get up with just a little help from me, while John held the wheelchair to safely get her in.  He wheeled her to the dining room for lunch.  

Vista Tue 7/5/22

Today the 3 of us went to visit mom.  Heading down to her room, I started to enter and the smell was bad. Linda was there and said she just had an accident in her new chair.  She said she needed time to clean up and change moms clothes.  We went to the dining room to wait. 

Soon Linda brought her down in a wheelchair.  We sat at the table and visited.  She was in good spirits and said she was feeling better.  She held molly and gave her love.  After some time, she decided to go back to her room.  John had taken molly outside.  I went down to her room, grabbing her roku remote, put on Dr Quinn 2nd season.  She wanted to lay down, and Hannah had stopped in and helped her.  She was so gentle taking moms shoes off.  And I said so.  Hannah said those are nice, they fit her so good.  I said I’ve never figured out how she got them.  Linda was in the hallway and heard us.  Those shoes came from her!  I’ve wondered for 2 months where they came from!  Linda was given them by her daughter but she couldn’t use them so thought of mom.  Brand new.  Angel on earth.  

I talked several times throughout the day with Janette.  Problems.  Moms doctor moved as of 6/30.  I knew this and changed her records to Community Health’s Dr. Wasson.  Well, since mom hasn’t seen her in person yet, she cannot get a scrip for a wheelchair and PT.  Complicating things further, Dr. Wasson is now moving as well.  And the earliest any doctor can see her is the end of September.  

So what next.  I decided to call Dr. Lovko’s new office in Brandon since she’s also my doctor, to appeal to her good senses.  The nurse i spoke to was very patient with me explaining everything.  After i was done, she said ok, well you’ve called community health in Brandon, not Dr. Lovko’s new office.  Her new office is UVM Porter.  I said oh no I can’t believe i went through the whole story with my frustration, but she interrupted me saying no, she was going to try to help me.  An Angel on earth.  She said she’d get back to me asap.  We waited a couple hours, and decided to go to to Keene Medical where we’d gotten moms chair, because Janette said she really needs that wheelchair.  After waiting a while we found out we could rent one for about $80 for a month.  We said let’s do it.  Then another monkey wrench - we couldn’t get it until Wednesday morning.  Taryn will call us when it’s ready,  

Janette also told me that cleaning upholstery - mattress and chairs - they do the best they can.  So I will hire a professional service to give moms stuff a thorough cleaning sometime soon.  In the meantime, she gave me info to buy waterproof/ protective pads for chairs and mattresses.  Also a different type of undergarment to more fully protect against accidents.  Found it all on Amazon, and ordered, also another mattress pad because her other one apparently needed to be thrown away.

The CH nurse called me back and said while true that a new doc can’t prescribe without seeing her, she was able to get her in Friday at noon with Dr. Lisa Graves-Austin.  Ok good maybe we can get the PT to happen.  Next up, calling Janette to see if mom can get transported by Luis back and forth.  Janette checked and said yes.  Next up, calling Kenny to see if he could meet mom at the doctors. Vista will transport, but someone needs to meet the resident and stay with them until Luis comes back for her when the appointment is over.  Kenny said it will work.  Thank God for Kenny, he’s another Angel in my life.  (I’m babysitting miles thurs & fri this week, staying overnight.)

The ER & Vista - Monday 7/4/22

 

This was an eventful 4th of July.  Poor mom said she wanted to go to the ER because her knees hurt from her fall on Saturday.  

Janette told me the procedure - they call for an ambulance to take her.  So she let me know when they left with her and I met them at the hospital.  I had to wait a bit, but then was brought to her room.  I told her I was going to get her warm blankets.  Her nurse, Ryan gave me 2 and said it would be a while for a doctor to see her.  I covered her and got her nice and cozy.  The tv was on a meditation channel that would have had me curled up on the floor sleeping in no time, lol, so I decided to see what else was on.  Wow, Turner classic movies - moms favorites, stopped there.  And what was on but Yankee Doodle Dandy. She said yes to it.  I worked on organizing photos of Miles while watching.  Mom slept.  The music was so uplifting, how can anyone not be in a good mood with that movie on?  It was going on 2 hours when the doctor came in.  He ordered pain med by IV and knee X-rays.  The med came quickly then, and she was taken to X-ray right after.  Within a short time she was back, and telling me to go be with John and Molly at the picnic. Every once in a while she surprises me with not only what she is able to say, but that she has understood something I’ve told her. So I said I would if she felt she would sleep while i was gone.  I told her I’d be back.  So upon leaving I ran into her doctor and he personally wrote down my phone number to call me when he had results.  

I arrived to the picnic an hour and a half after I was supposed to, and John and Molly had been having a nice time.  I heated my food inside in the microwave and it was good.  Sitting outside relaxing with friends was just what the doctor ordered.  

An hour and a half passed and I was surprised I hadn’t gotten a phone call.  We decided it was time for thank yous and leaving.  On my way back to the ER, my phone rang.  It was the Dr. calling to say that the X-rays were negative. She has arthritis, possibly a sprain.  He asked if I would ok with them  doing X-rays of her hips  just to be sure, and I said yes and told him I was on my way back.  When I got there she was sleeping.  

After a while the doctor came in and said hip X-rays looked perfect.  So if it wasn’t the 4th, she would have been discharged with PT instructions and wheelchair, but we have to wait.  John called to say he was on his way, leaving medicated Molly with his brother Dominic. (fireworks)

It was about 7:45 when the nurses got mom in the car.  John hadn’t arrived yet so I called him and he said to meet him at olivia’s because he wanted to help me.  We ended up deciding to take both cars since he had to get back to the other end of town to get molly and I needed to grab something for mom to eat.  I’d tried the hospital cafeteria, but it was closed.  I was weighing what to get that would be quick, and also aware of her recent choking and needing the Heimlich maneuver.  I decided on McDonald’s fish filet.  We drove thru and I got her 2.  Opened the first one, and she eagerly ate.  I cautioned her to chew good and slowly.  She said it was delicious.  She was happy when I told her she had another one too.  As we pulled in I said “you’re home! thank goodness right?” She said “yes Jane Marie”.  I laughed and said “ok Celia Louise”.  

When we got back to vista, John was already there getting George and a wheelchair.  George was absolutely great with mom.  Lifted her out of the car. She was still working on her first fish, so I told her hand it to me and I’d bring it in.  We got her inside and George pushed her right to a table in the dining room where she could finish eating.  I reminded her rest = healing, her body needs it.  Kissed her goodbye got home about 8:20.  

Vista - Sunday 7/3/22

 

When I arrived mom was in the dining room. She smiled and waved when she saw me.  I sat down with her and asked her again about her fall and if she as still feeling ok.  She said she didn't hurt anywhere when I asked.  After a bit she wanted to go to her room.  She had a very hard time getting up.  She was more hunched over and moved very slowly.  We started to her room and I said wait how about we go outdoors?  She said yes.  So as we walked to the door, I could see how much slower she was moving.  It was an effort to get her out.  Linda helped.  

We sat outside for quite a while.  We called aunt honey and pat.  Aunt honey talked quite a while.  Mom remembered that Valerie bought a house which is great.  I asked mom if her knees or legs hurt.  I pointed to her knee and I told her that it looked a little swollen.  She rubbed it and said it felt stiff.  So I called Daniel and left a message asking for Advil or icing.  He called right back and said even though Janette was off, it is ok to call her with medical issues.  So I called Janette.  She said yes.  Also mentioned that she was up a lot during the night so I asked about PM’s or melatonin. She will take care of it.  

Mom said she wanted to go back to her room, she was tired.  Going back inside was a struggle.  Finally back at her room, I had seen that her shirt was dirty from lunch.  I had brought with me a top that I’d taken home that had stains on it. I was able to get them out, so brought it back to her.  I put that top on her.  

She kept mentioning that she thought something was wrong with Pat.  I said well you just talked with her and she was fine.  Then she surprised me by saying that she thought there was more that she wasn’t saying.  So I called Pat and told her that mom was concerned something was wrong.  Pat reassured her that all was good, and Pumpkin is doing great.  Sarah had fed her this morning, but Pumpkin was none too pleased that it wasn’t her usual amount.  This made mom laugh. 

I got mom into bed.  Noticing she had her legs bent, I asked her if she’d like to try a pillow under her knees.  She said yes.  So I did that and got a clean top sheet to put over her.  I reminded her to push her button when she wants to get up.  I then went and got her roku remote down the hall, and put on Dr Quinn for her.  Her eyes were closed.  She is so frail, I was fighting tears.  Kissed her goodbye, and she asked for medication.  I told her I’d call Janette again.  I had noticed that moms bathroom door was open again.  More tears.  

In the parking lot I called Janette again.  She said she’d call Linda right now.  I also wanted to be sure she knew the bathroom was open again.  She said that it’s a hard choice and then I interrupted her and said no need to explain, I totally get it, just wanted to be sure Janette knew it was open.  

Other:  

Charlene walked close behind me to try to get out when mom and I were going outside.  Linda had to tell her no and hold her hand out to prevent her from going.  

Betty is definitely also a resident because when we came back in, she and her husband were trying to get out.  Anita was telling Betty that they need someone with them to go outside.  Betty wasn’t taking it well.  I noticed she was wearing an alert necklace.  Anita was calmly explaining but Betty and Bill weren’t giving up.  

I’m getting more smiles from residents. A bonus in this situation.  

Walking with mom, my head went crazy - I jumped to her falling again, then going into the hospital, and being bedridden …. tears coming, I kept repeating to myself one day at a time.

.  

Vista - Sat 7/2/22

This morning Janette called me to say that mom had fallen after breakfast. They checked her over and she seems fine and says she is not hurt.  I asked her if moms phone was plugged back in because Pat can’t get through to her and mom hasn’t called her since Thursday morning.  Then I said I’m on my way and will be there soon.  Mom was awake sitting on her bed when I got there.  She asked me if I minded if she laid down.  I said of course not.  She wanted molly so I put her on the bed next to her.  

I saw that the tv was on - which I was glad to see, but it was on the FX channel and I thought to myself that I think I will scream if her tv is stuck on fx again.  For at least the first month mom was there, all that came in was fx.  I got increasingly annoyed.  It’s hard now to remember it all, there was so much going on during that time.  Mom didn’t act concerned about the tv, so I kept telling myself why are you getting upset when she is ok with it.  

I couldn’t find the roku remote, so I went to the nurses station.  It was there in a drawer.  Mom can’t use it correctly plus that was part of the problem that first month and beyond that she’d try to use it and push buttons that would make it hard to get it to work right again.  It was frustrating for her and me.  So once I went to roku for her, we’ve decided to keep the remote out of her room and then she won’t get tempted to use it and then frustrated trying to use it.  

When I came back to her room, I did some searching and found Dr. Quinn and How The West Was Won.  I remembered that she used to love Dr, Quinn.  I asked her which she preferred. But then I realized I was asking something that is hard for her to answer, yes or no questions are better.  So I chose, and said how about Dr. Quinn?  She said yes.  Then I logged in to her computer and read her a few emails, but she was getting really slumped over so I asked her if she was ok.  She said she wanted to lay down.  I said ok, and covered her up.  She told me to wake her to eat.

When 12:30 came, she got up, but struggled a bit.  Down we went to the dining room.  I said bye and I’d see her later, she said yes.  She told me the lady sitting with her graduated from high school with her.  I said yes and isn’t that wonderful.  

Vista Thu 6/30/22

Today when I arrived, Luis told me he needed to talk to me about a new issue.  Mom is now in a cycle where she continually thinks she needs to use the bathroom.  After monitoring her, they want to keep her bathroom door locked so she HAS to ask them for help.  This is what we want anyway.  She won’t use her alert necklace. Ideally if they can get her to ask them for help, and/or push her alert button, she will start to always ask them for help even if the bathroom is left unlocked.  

Luis told me he tried to get her to go to activities in the library.  She said no.  So I asked her if she’d show me where the activities are being held.  She said yes.  On the way there I told her she should try to go to these things because she would be with other people, and she’s always loved being around people.  She said yes.  So in the library, George got a chair for her.  Then she wanted me to sit so I got another chair. George led them with tossing/passing/kicking a beachball around. Mom did better than I expected.  Involved and following instructions. 

Then I left to meet Daniel to hook up her computer.  He took charge, and voila it worked!  I even remembered her password lol.  I talked with Daniel about her phone being disconnected during the night. She is calling Pat a lot the last couple days to tell her the bathroom is locked.  (And Kenny told me later that she has also called him.)

So Daniel is going to talk with Luis & Janette about how to handle the phone.  Mom came back from activities and I read to her some email she had.  Then she asked to talk to Kenny so i called him and she spoke with him a bit, and talked about their new dog Buzby.  Then I put Downton Abbey on.