With a lot of effort, I got PG back to her home at the assisted living facility. A week ago Friday I talked to the physical therapist (PT) and occupational therapist (OT) at the rehab where PG was recouperating...I wanted to know if they thought she was improving. The PT said that it would take months for PG to get better, but then I explained that how she's doing now physically and mentally is exactly what she was doing before she injured herself. Then, the PT said that if that was the case, then she'll probably never walk again. So, I said--I'm aware of that possibility, so can she go back to assisted living and continue PT and OT with a home health company? And they agreed that would be ok. I hurried and contacted the nurse at the assisted living and told her the plan. Monday the assisted living nurse contacted the rehab social worker for the discharge paper work, med record, etc and he said he'd fax it, and that PG could be discharged on Tuesday after seeing their house doctor. I contacted the social worker to find out the time the doc would see PG, and found out that the visit would be somewhere around noon. So I asked SSIL to be with PG so that she wouldn't say something outrageous to the doc and blow the discharge. Thank goodness, SSIL was there, because 3 hours went by and no doc. He called me to say that he asked the nurse where the doc was and was told he'd already left and she didn't even know that PG was suppose to be seen or discharged!!!! Then, I called the social worker and the nurse apparently had asked him what was going on before I could call (which was only a matter of minutes). He was apoligizing and saying that he called the doc to come back and discharge PG and he'd taken care of the paperwork and she could still leave that day. By this time, SSIL had already headed for home, and I called him and asked him to go back and calm PG down (cuz I knew she would be stressed out--SSIL should have never left), and that I'd be right there to take her home. When I got there, I had a nice surprise because my son was there also, so we loaded up all PG's stuff and all the aides and nurses said good-bye to PG and we got her back to her apartment----finally.
Except, things never seem to be easy or go smoothly, the assisted living nurse calls me the next day and says that the rehab social worker never sent the med record and PG was not getting her meds. I'm sick of this idiot! So, to work around him, I contact her neurologist's office and ask them to send new prescriptions so that the assisted living pharmacy can get her meds going again. They say that the physician's assistant will take care of it. Two days later, the assisted living med tech tells me again that they haven't received her meds yet from the neurologist. Is everybody incompetent or am I expecting too much for people to do what they say they're going to do?????? So, I don't work on Fridays and I left the house at 9 am on a mission to get some prescriptions from someone! I'm about to head to the neurologist's office and then it occured to me that the small family practice office down the street (where I've taken PG to get x-rayed) has a copy of her meds and they're nice and would probably write her prescriptions for me. (I was so mad at the neurologist's office that I also thought it would be good them too for me not to go to their office:o) Thankfully, the little office down the street did write the scripts for me. That office is so convenient and unfortunately it's closing because the parent company that owns that clinic doesn't think it's bringing in enough customers to make it worth while. So I'll have to find PG another new primary care doctor (she's had a couple)...
So, I got the med thing settled and I figure that I'll go visit PG. I walk in her room and say "HI" and she asks if SSIL is with me! At least she's reliable:)
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I dread it when I hear my cell phone ring
I dread it when I hear my cell phone ring, cuz it seems like it's always the nursing home calling about PG!!!
Sunday they called to say that she fell out of bed. So I made a sign, "MOM, STAY IN BED. PUSH THE BUTTON FOR HELP" and I hung it on the wall where she would see it every day. HAAAAAAAAA.
Monday at work, they called me to say that she fell out of her wheelchair reaching for a magazine. We go visit her and try to talk to her about being safe. It's honestly harder than talking to a toddler...you can reason with a toddler...
Tuesday as I'm getting into my car to go home from work, they call to say that PG is extremely upset, mad, and yelling. She was given a shower and now she's yelling at the CNA that her hair is not finished...they are calling to ask if I know what they can do to calm her down---WOW. All I can do is apologize to them and say "I don't know what she wants, and we're on our way." They try to assure me that I don't need to come over, that they're happy to do whatever they can to calm her down, but they don't know how to help her. I couldn't think of anything to tell them, except that her behavior is not normal for her. I quickly call SSIL and tell him to head over there cuz he is closer than I am--which he does. I arrive and PG is raving about her hair being messy and she can't find her makeup or her mirror, blah, blah, blah... She hasn't worn makeup in months.
Her hair actually looks quite cute. Her hair lays very nicely even without being curled. So, anyway I try to tell her she looks fine, and she tells me not to lie:o The CNA comes to take PG to the dining room for dinner and PG yells that she "can't go looking like this!" Then I find a brush and brush her hair just trying to apease her. Her CNA talks to me in the hall and tells me that if I bring her makeup, nail polish, lotion, etc that she'd be happy to fix PG up with all the cosmetics, etc which I thought was really nice.
PG finally allows two CNAs to take her to dinner.
Today, we arrive at 8:30 am to take her to a doctor appt. She tells me that she's mad that she got "reported for falling." She hates it that the nursing home calls us whenever she falls, but they have to notify us. So anyway, the neurologist is going to try a brand new medication for Parkinson's Disease. It'll probably help her Parkinson's symptoms, but I doubt it helps her dementia. Any who, I'll end for now...I have to go charge the battery of my cell phone so I don't miss any calls:)
Sunday they called to say that she fell out of bed. So I made a sign, "MOM, STAY IN BED. PUSH THE BUTTON FOR HELP" and I hung it on the wall where she would see it every day. HAAAAAAAAA.
Monday at work, they called me to say that she fell out of her wheelchair reaching for a magazine. We go visit her and try to talk to her about being safe. It's honestly harder than talking to a toddler...you can reason with a toddler...
Tuesday as I'm getting into my car to go home from work, they call to say that PG is extremely upset, mad, and yelling. She was given a shower and now she's yelling at the CNA that her hair is not finished...they are calling to ask if I know what they can do to calm her down---WOW. All I can do is apologize to them and say "I don't know what she wants, and we're on our way." They try to assure me that I don't need to come over, that they're happy to do whatever they can to calm her down, but they don't know how to help her. I couldn't think of anything to tell them, except that her behavior is not normal for her. I quickly call SSIL and tell him to head over there cuz he is closer than I am--which he does. I arrive and PG is raving about her hair being messy and she can't find her makeup or her mirror, blah, blah, blah... She hasn't worn makeup in months.
Her hair actually looks quite cute. Her hair lays very nicely even without being curled. So, anyway I try to tell her she looks fine, and she tells me not to lie:o The CNA comes to take PG to the dining room for dinner and PG yells that she "can't go looking like this!" Then I find a brush and brush her hair just trying to apease her. Her CNA talks to me in the hall and tells me that if I bring her makeup, nail polish, lotion, etc that she'd be happy to fix PG up with all the cosmetics, etc which I thought was really nice.
PG finally allows two CNAs to take her to dinner.
Today, we arrive at 8:30 am to take her to a doctor appt. She tells me that she's mad that she got "reported for falling." She hates it that the nursing home calls us whenever she falls, but they have to notify us. So anyway, the neurologist is going to try a brand new medication for Parkinson's Disease. It'll probably help her Parkinson's symptoms, but I doubt it helps her dementia. Any who, I'll end for now...I have to go charge the battery of my cell phone so I don't miss any calls:)
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Pink Grandma looks a little frazzled.
Well, she's been at the nursing home for 24 hours and so far, so good. We shopped again this morning and after 3 stores I found some velcro tennis shoes. While we (SSIL and I) were trying to find the shoes, we found some velcro tennies shoes in Men's but not Women's. So SSIL got bored and went shopping around in a different department of the store. I wasn't giving up though--if they had men's velcro shoes, then women's must be somewhere. Well, way up high on a shelf (Walmart) was a pair mixed in with other women's athletic shoes. You know how they put one shoe on display so that you know what's in the box? Well, this shoe was not on display anywhere. So, hurray, I found some and only $10!! I bought some socks also and then we headed to the nursing home. We brought all the stuff we bought last night and the new shoes over to PG. SSIL pulls out the shoes to show PG and starts putting them on her feet. She is gushing over them and asks if he got a "bargin". He replies, "Of course, you know I always shop the sales. They were only $10." PG says, "I know you're a sales shopper just like me." I just roll my eyes to myself and laugh. What would she do without her super son-in-law:)
She looked uncomfortable laying in bed, but she said that she wasn't in pain. I think she's just a little disoriented. She asked if John (the administrator at the assisted living facility where she lives) has given away her room yet. And we try to console her and tell her that her room is waiting for her to get better and return to it.
I kind of think that she really doesn't care where she lives at this point. She really liked her stay at the hospital where she had surgery, and when the case manager was arranging her rehab care asking us which nursing home would we like PG to go to--PG piped in that it didn't really matter, she'd stay anywhere. Although she did express some concern last night that she'd have to get to know new people again at this new place. But we try to help her understand that she will be going back to her home. She doesn't remember things very well from one day to the next.
While out at occupational therapy today, she did notice that this nursing home has a Wii, so she was excited (a little). I hope she gets to play soon!
She looked uncomfortable laying in bed, but she said that she wasn't in pain. I think she's just a little disoriented. She asked if John (the administrator at the assisted living facility where she lives) has given away her room yet. And we try to console her and tell her that her room is waiting for her to get better and return to it.
I kind of think that she really doesn't care where she lives at this point. She really liked her stay at the hospital where she had surgery, and when the case manager was arranging her rehab care asking us which nursing home would we like PG to go to--PG piped in that it didn't really matter, she'd stay anywhere. Although she did express some concern last night that she'd have to get to know new people again at this new place. But we try to help her understand that she will be going back to her home. She doesn't remember things very well from one day to the next.
While out at occupational therapy today, she did notice that this nursing home has a Wii, so she was excited (a little). I hope she gets to play soon!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Well...
Well, today is Friday...so let me fill you in on the week we had.
Like I said last time, I was gonna take PG to the doc on Monday cuz I thought her hip may be broken, and BINGO, it was. So now her difficulty walking makes sense; however, I feel like a spaz that it took me so long to figure it out (however, none of the multiple doctors or nurses or physical therapists figured it out at all) so I'm not a total retard. So, we took her to see her orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday...sideline for a moment...while taking PG to the doctor, we wheeled her to the car in her wheelchair (I put her in the car all the time and didn't think it would be a big deal for SSIL to help her into the car)...so I go to take the wheelchair back to her apartment and leave SSIL to get PG into the car. I return (about 5 min) to find SSIL holding up PG and she's hanging onto the door dangling there and the two of them are stuck in that position:) So I get in the car from the other side and pull her inside...SSIL is now exhausted and we haven't even gotten out of the parking lot...anyway...the surgeon put her on the end of the surgery schedule on Tuesday night. He gave us three choices:
1. Leave the hip the way it is, keep her pain-free, she is bed ridden, gets pneumonia, and dies...
2. He does a total hip replacement which is a big surgery and there's a lot of blood loss and she'll most likely need a blood transfusion...wait a minute...I inform the doc that she's JW....
3. So, that leaves us with option 3, stabilize the hip with screws. It's less invasive and she won't need blood. So #3 it is.
We take her over to the hospital and she gets admitted to a room. Hospital personnel are in and out, testing this and that...PG tells the EKG lady as she's leaving the room to "have a nice life." PG was actually quite funny the whole time, she was hallucinating (seeing motorcycles on the ceiling for example). Then finally about 5 hours later it's her turn for surgery. They take her to the OR and the anesthesiologist examines her and asks her some questions. She tells him, "They better hurry up and make me dead cuz I'm starting to hurt." (Which is the first time that she ever complained of hip pain.) The anesthesiologist asked her to open her mouth wide and PG said, "No, I don't want to do that." So, he said, "That's fine."
The surgery went well and PG spent the next 3 days in the hospital recovering. She saw people water skiing down the street in front of the hopsital. She saw a bear outside her window. The nurses gave her a newborn baby to take care of one night and PG said she kept it under the bed. She was stuck in the bed rails and her son (who was in a different state at the time) just sat there and watched her struggle and didn't help her get out. Her mind had a very busy hospital stay. But physically she is recovering nicely.
Today she was transferred to a rehabilitation center for physicial therapy. An occupational therapist was evaluating what PG could and couldn't do--like she couldn't unbutton the blouse she had on, but she could pull on a t-shirt over her head by herself--"activities of daily living"--stuff like that. And then she gets PG to bed and gives her the call button and asks PG, "If you need to use the bathroom, what would you do?" PG responds, "Do you want to know my secrets?" Man, that caught my attention:) I couldn't wait to hear what she was going to say! PG continues, "I use the pull-ups sometimes if I can get situated." (Translation: she keeps pull-ups in a plastic grocery bag and hangs from the head board of her bed. When she wets it, she pulls it off throws it under the bed and gets a new one from the plastic bag.) "Or, sometimes I crawl out of bed and find a newspaper..." (Translation: I'm shocked! I didn't know she did that. What I know from experience is that she goes in her waste basket.) Needless to say, I will send SSIL to her apartment while she's in rehab and have him clean the carpet!
So the therapist and I stressed to PG that she obsolutely must use the call button for any kind of help so that she doesn't get hurt. It's 10:30 pm and they haven't called me yet to say that they've found her on the floor so let's hope she's using the button.
We also went on a shopping spree at Wallymart today and bought PG some pull-on shirts and some stretchy pants and sports bras--the occupational therapist is going to teach her to dress herself with more convenient clothes. I gotta find some velcro tennis shoes tomorrow.
I'm now unwinding from the week with Season 4 of The Office DVD! Right off, it's working--I'm laughing out loud and it feels good--Michael hit Meridith with his car!!
Like I said last time, I was gonna take PG to the doc on Monday cuz I thought her hip may be broken, and BINGO, it was. So now her difficulty walking makes sense; however, I feel like a spaz that it took me so long to figure it out (however, none of the multiple doctors or nurses or physical therapists figured it out at all) so I'm not a total retard. So, we took her to see her orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday...sideline for a moment...while taking PG to the doctor, we wheeled her to the car in her wheelchair (I put her in the car all the time and didn't think it would be a big deal for SSIL to help her into the car)...so I go to take the wheelchair back to her apartment and leave SSIL to get PG into the car. I return (about 5 min) to find SSIL holding up PG and she's hanging onto the door dangling there and the two of them are stuck in that position:) So I get in the car from the other side and pull her inside...SSIL is now exhausted and we haven't even gotten out of the parking lot...anyway...the surgeon put her on the end of the surgery schedule on Tuesday night. He gave us three choices:
1. Leave the hip the way it is, keep her pain-free, she is bed ridden, gets pneumonia, and dies...
2. He does a total hip replacement which is a big surgery and there's a lot of blood loss and she'll most likely need a blood transfusion...wait a minute...I inform the doc that she's JW....
3. So, that leaves us with option 3, stabilize the hip with screws. It's less invasive and she won't need blood. So #3 it is.
We take her over to the hospital and she gets admitted to a room. Hospital personnel are in and out, testing this and that...PG tells the EKG lady as she's leaving the room to "have a nice life." PG was actually quite funny the whole time, she was hallucinating (seeing motorcycles on the ceiling for example). Then finally about 5 hours later it's her turn for surgery. They take her to the OR and the anesthesiologist examines her and asks her some questions. She tells him, "They better hurry up and make me dead cuz I'm starting to hurt." (Which is the first time that she ever complained of hip pain.) The anesthesiologist asked her to open her mouth wide and PG said, "No, I don't want to do that." So, he said, "That's fine."
The surgery went well and PG spent the next 3 days in the hospital recovering. She saw people water skiing down the street in front of the hopsital. She saw a bear outside her window. The nurses gave her a newborn baby to take care of one night and PG said she kept it under the bed. She was stuck in the bed rails and her son (who was in a different state at the time) just sat there and watched her struggle and didn't help her get out. Her mind had a very busy hospital stay. But physically she is recovering nicely.
Today she was transferred to a rehabilitation center for physicial therapy. An occupational therapist was evaluating what PG could and couldn't do--like she couldn't unbutton the blouse she had on, but she could pull on a t-shirt over her head by herself--"activities of daily living"--stuff like that. And then she gets PG to bed and gives her the call button and asks PG, "If you need to use the bathroom, what would you do?" PG responds, "Do you want to know my secrets?" Man, that caught my attention:) I couldn't wait to hear what she was going to say! PG continues, "I use the pull-ups sometimes if I can get situated." (Translation: she keeps pull-ups in a plastic grocery bag and hangs from the head board of her bed. When she wets it, she pulls it off throws it under the bed and gets a new one from the plastic bag.) "Or, sometimes I crawl out of bed and find a newspaper..." (Translation: I'm shocked! I didn't know she did that. What I know from experience is that she goes in her waste basket.) Needless to say, I will send SSIL to her apartment while she's in rehab and have him clean the carpet!
So the therapist and I stressed to PG that she obsolutely must use the call button for any kind of help so that she doesn't get hurt. It's 10:30 pm and they haven't called me yet to say that they've found her on the floor so let's hope she's using the button.
We also went on a shopping spree at Wallymart today and bought PG some pull-on shirts and some stretchy pants and sports bras--the occupational therapist is going to teach her to dress herself with more convenient clothes. I gotta find some velcro tennis shoes tomorrow.
I'm now unwinding from the week with Season 4 of The Office DVD! Right off, it's working--I'm laughing out loud and it feels good--Michael hit Meridith with his car!!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Friday started out encouraging...
We stopped by to visit PG yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to see her bowling on the Wii with the other residents. She looked like her old self (except that she was in a wheelchair), and that was a great sight. We stayed and bowled a couple of games with the group. Definitely a hopeful day, until later Friday evening when an aide from the assisted living called to let me know that she found PG on the floor. She said that PG wasn't hurt and PG claimed that she was trying to get something out of her dresser. Then we discussed how PG intentionally slides off her bed and crawls around her room to do things instead of trying to walk (and possibly falling). What can we do? We can't stop her and she won't stop...
Then this morning the phone rings and it's an aide calling from the assisted living. She says that she's calling at PG's request and then puts PG on the phone. PG says, "My head is all screwed up." (Slience) "Well, I just thought you should know." Then I said, "We're coming over to see you right now."
We arrive and PG is laying on her bed and appears obviously distressed. She's all upset that she needs to have her laundry "gathered" for the aides to wash. (Her laundry is already in a laundry basket in her closet.) I go and find out that wash days are Sundays and Tuesdays--which satisfies her. Then, she wants money to tip the aides. I explain that tipping is against their policy and not allowed. She seems OK to have these items cleared up for her, but she's still distressed that she's so confused. So we visit with her for a while and try to console her. She says that she has been thinking, she wants everyone (her children and grandchildren) to move near the assisted living and then everything would be wonderful...she even tells me to give my son a house that we rent out.
I'm going to make a doctor appt on Monday, I want them to x-ray her hip to make sure nothing is wrong (she still acts like she has had a stroke--but she hasn't). Hopefully she'll have a better day tomorrow.
Then this morning the phone rings and it's an aide calling from the assisted living. She says that she's calling at PG's request and then puts PG on the phone. PG says, "My head is all screwed up." (Slience) "Well, I just thought you should know." Then I said, "We're coming over to see you right now."
We arrive and PG is laying on her bed and appears obviously distressed. She's all upset that she needs to have her laundry "gathered" for the aides to wash. (Her laundry is already in a laundry basket in her closet.) I go and find out that wash days are Sundays and Tuesdays--which satisfies her. Then, she wants money to tip the aides. I explain that tipping is against their policy and not allowed. She seems OK to have these items cleared up for her, but she's still distressed that she's so confused. So we visit with her for a while and try to console her. She says that she has been thinking, she wants everyone (her children and grandchildren) to move near the assisted living and then everything would be wonderful...she even tells me to give my son a house that we rent out.
I'm going to make a doctor appt on Monday, I want them to x-ray her hip to make sure nothing is wrong (she still acts like she has had a stroke--but she hasn't). Hopefully she'll have a better day tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
