Twinkle in her eye

I stopped by to visit Grandma after work. She was eating dinner, unassisted, with regular glasses. She did have a clamp on ring on her plate which provided a lip against wish to push the food onto a spoon. She had a twinkle in her eye and acted great. She could tell me Lauren and the kids came by to visit.

She still isn't sleeping well - getting up four times for bathroom breaks, but is doing well otherwise.

I asked the nurse what they had discussed as far as rehab, but she was clueless. At first she thought I was talking about going ON rehab instead of OFF, so she was totally unaware that anything might be changing.

Breakfast

I stopped by to visit Grandma on the way to work. It was 7:30. She said she had slept better than she had been - but her neck was bothering her. I told her I would bring her in one of the special neck pillows I use. Maybe that will help.

She was already dressed and at the nursing station to have her meds. I took her to breakfast. We visited about what Steve was doing today and she was alert and talkative. I asked her if she was going to activities (like piano performances). She said she has not - because she is sleeping most of the time. I would rather see her on a schedule where she doesn't get up until 10 and is awake more in the afternoon and evening. A 6:30 wake-up doesn't seem the best for her. It also makes it tough for us to visit in the evening as she goes to bed so early.

I asked her if she enjoyed her breakfast (cut up french toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs). She said it was cold, so we sent it back to be warmed up. She wanted her eggs salted, but the salt shaker was not only dirty but the holes were plugged. We sent it back to be cleaned. She realized she needed to be more vocal about what she wanted.

On the road again...

They had an evaluation meeting about Grandma today. She is doing well enough that they don't foresee her needing Rehab for longer than a week or ten days. She is a one-person assist (though that could change), so she is free to go to assisted living (rather than a nursing home). I know Legacy House (which is where we were going to take her before the falls) doesn't have any room now. Of course, availability is constantly changing.

Kathy suggested that we keep her at Sunshine Terrace until she can move to the place (and type of room) that she desires. Otherwise, we'll end up moving her twice. Plus, the rooms are different sizes - so knowing the room size will help in buying/moving the right furniture for the room.

At any rate, it is exciting news.

Moving on her own power

When we dropped by Sunshine Terrace on Saturday afternoon, Diane Fiefield was there with flowers she had brought. She said as she arrived Alda was mozying down the hall ON HER OWN POWER! I have noticed that they don't put the footrest on the wheelchair. I've seen her moving her feet as they push her, but I've never seen her actually moving the chair by herself. Amazing! She said that Diane had helped her move from the wheelchair to her recliner. That sounds like a one-person assist, doesn't it? I'm totally shocked that an older person would even attempt to move Alda - so Alda must have been able and willing to help.

I had made lemon squares, which she seemed to enjoy. She indicated she was cold, so I got McKenzie to show me how to adjust the temperature. While you can't just set the temperature higher, you can turn the heater on to a fixed setting (high, medium, low). The heat just poured in.

The hand towel I had seen earlier in the week was on the back of the recliner - almost as a protective cover. I asked Alda what it was doing, but she told me it was just a hand towel that she used in the bathroom. I have rags that look ten times better. No kidding. It was threadbare and the binding had separated from the cloth. I was going to say something to them, but decided to just take it so it couldn't be used again. I have a ton of hand towels I don't need, so I'll just bring one of mine when I return.

It was another beautiful day in Cache Valley so we TRIED to get her to go on a walk with us in the wheelchair, but could not talk her into it. I would think she would be anxious to leave the confines on her room, but she wasn't at all interested.

We called Lynda for her birthday. Alda just lit up talking to her. I heard her tell Lynda that she wasn't staying at Sunshine Terrace much longer as she was doing much better. She was going to move to Legacy House. When I queried her after, she said that no one had told her she was moving to Legacy House, but that they had determined that herself. She knew that Bob and Norm were coming on Monday morning (at ten) for an evaluation with the case worker. She was very much aware of days, times, and events.

As we left her with the television blaring and the heat pouring in, she was happy as a clam.

Not sleeping

I dropped by Sunshine Terrace around 6:30. Alda was zonked!!! I woke her up, but it took her a while to register where she was. She said she hasn't been sleeping well this week. She had her hair cut and permed. Her robe and hand towel were on the chair. I asked her if she was getting ready for bed, but she said they were there from morning. I've never seen them left out before, so I don't know if she got that right. She thanked me for coming. I asked her if anyone had been to visit. She told me, "No", but then indicated Bob had been there. Maybe she thought I meant someone besides family.

She had a new remote control. Yeah!

There was a call button on a long cord by her chair, but it was laying on the floor. She said she has used it before, but I don't know how she reaches it. I'm sure it's not supposed to be on the floor, but I didn't see any way to attach it to the table or her chair.

I love you, who are you?

I'm reading the book "I love you. Who are you?" It is about caring for people with Alzheimer's. I noticed the multiple references to having a good care facility. While many cared for the patient in their home, the book keeps referring to finding good workers. Some said they transferred care facilities multiple times. Another said he became a "drill instructor" in asking for care for his loved one. I'm reluctant to become the drill instructor myself - as it seems like there needs to be one family member to report to - not many. However, I'm hoping someone is being an advocate for Grandma. Why does she have to get up at 6:30? Why is lunch at 11? Why is there no call button by her chair?

I talked to Jessica (the manager) at Legacy House (435-232-3781). She said that a person needs to be a "one person assist" to qualify for Legacy House. I have seen a single person move Alda - so I'm thinking that qualifies. Jessica said she has Alda on her "wait list", but has no openings now. She does have openings in the memory unit.

I told Jessica that I had been told when Alda no longer qualifies for rehab, we will only be given three days notice. Jessica said they should give you several weeks notice - as it doesn't come as a complete shock. I told her I wasn't getting any info from the nurse. She told me to talk to the social worker (Leanne Loscher 435-752-0411) who could tell me what is happening with rehab. She also said to tell Leanne that after rehab we are considering moving Alda to Legacy House. Then Leanne will set up the evaluation with Legacy House to make sure they can take her.

After two attempts to reach Leanne, I decided to just send an email. My mother-in-law, Alda Allan, is currently in the rehab unit. I need to understand her situation better. In particular,

(1) How is the rehab going? Is there a way of getting regular updates? Is she making progress? Is she in danger of termination?

(2) How can we get a call button that is reachable from her chair?

(3) Is she being awakened at 6:30 a.m.? Why is that? Is another schedule possible?

I talked to Leanne. This is what I learned. Laura Opperman is her social worker. Alda is in danger of losing Rehab status (paid for by Medicare). She has good days and bad. Occupational Therapy is the main concern. They are looking for daily improvement. Bob is evidently meeting with the social worker on Monday to talk about her status. They will only give us three days notice before pulling her off Medicare payment. She will be able to stay where she is, but we will just be paying at that point. She is considered a two person assist for safety. Sometimes she is just a one-person assist. Sometimes it requires two (depending on whether or not she is helpful). Meals are early (7:30-8:30 for breakfast, 11:30-12:30 for lunch). She can skip breakfast (and get cold cereal), but times are set.

I'm feeling the need for communication between family members...

A good day

We had to make a trip to Bear Lake to get our boat winterized, and dropped in on Mom on our way back. She said she had been in pain and had slept most of the day, but she was doing great cognitively. We wanted to take her for a walk, as the weather was absolutely beautiful, but we couldn't talk her into it. She said she had just gotten back from therapy and didn't want to move. We called JaNae, and Alda was so excited to talk to her.

Steve had talked to Lynda the night before. Lynda said that she talks to the nurses each week. I decided that is what I should do, but the nurse I talked to knew nothing. I asked about Alda's BAD case of cradle cap (or whatever it is). She said, "I haven't worked for a few days so I don't know." I said, "She has had this for months, so the last two days would make no difference. She took at look but just suggested a dandruff shampoo. I told her I didn't know what the treatment was, but it wasn't dandruff shampoo. I found a comb and worked on trying to get rid of some of it. I worried about drawing blood, so I just got the easy flakes. It was absolutely terrible - big flakes the size of a dime and affected areas three inches across. I didn't get the feeling the nurse was going to do anything about it. My Mom had really dry scalp as she got older and there was some medication they put on several times a week. I can't remember what it was, but it really helped. This does not seem like just dry scalp, however. This is like someone dropped gobs of Elmer's glue on her scalp.

I asked about Alda's rehab - but the nurse knew nothing, saying I would have to talk to the rehab people. I don't know how I'm supposed to figure out what is happening if no one person has all the info. She could have said, "Let me call and get that update for you", but she didn't.

Alda's remote didn't work. They had changed the battery on Sunday, but it still didn't work. They said they would call in a work order.

A sister Fiefield came while we were there. She was very impressed with how well Alda was doing.