Post Hospital Stays Follow Ups...

Ah, it's time for all of the post hospital stays follow up....

Dr. Appt with family doctor, check!

He'll have to do some follow ups with the hospitals to see what tests were done as the discharge papers didn't indicate tests and we're trying to figure out if it's a heart thing or a neurological thing.

I have as many to do's as he does!

• Make appointment with cardiologist for follow up to hospital stay and heart monitor.
• Occupational therapist coming today.
• Physcial therapist coming today.
• Visiting nurse needs to call and schedule a visit.
• Reduce aspirin to a baby aspirin v. the adult one prescribed in the hospital, doctor afraid of internal bleeding coming back.
• Oh, symptoms to watch for with bleeding.... feint - no dizzyness, tired, blood in stool, etc... Whoo hoo!

And more...

Being in the sandwiched generation isn't for the feint of heart...  just getting out from under the kids and now it's time for the parental care....

Can't wait to get away in a few weeks....

#takingcareofmom  #elderlycare  #careformom  #parentalcare  #gettingold  #respectyourelders 

2 Hospital Run In Just About As Many Days....

So Monday, after work, I stop by the hospital to take mom home.  They said she had a TIA.

We get home about 6:30pm, I look for something to make for dinner, whip it up, we eat... and mom ate the entire thing!... and clean up.  By this time it's the last round of #WheelofForture and we park ourselves on the sofa to watch.

As normal, mom nods off, and on, and off, and on... snoring a little as she goes.

The phone rings, it's the 'visiting nurse' calling to make an appointment to visit on Tuesday and see mom.  After consulting with the hubby if noon is a good time to stop by, I set the appointment and hang up the phone.

Then I tell mom, come on lady Jane, time to head upstairs to bed.... mom is reaching out, searching for something and I ask what's she's doing?  Trying to move that out of the way... What?... that stuff... Mom, there's nothing there... 

Come on... let's get you upstairs and ready for bed... I help he slowly get up... she takes a few steps to the other end of the sofa and proclaims, I don't feel well, I have to sit....

She sits... and goes into one of those episodes where she's totally unresponsive, her eyes are wide open, pupils big and stationary and her chest doesn't rise for about 6 seconds... I start to slap her cheeks to see if I can get her to respond,,, no luck, so I dial that favorite # again... 9-1-1!

Back we go to the local hospital... more of same testing that was done on Saturday and Sunday at the other place and then some!

Picked her up last night around 8pm and brought her home.  Their diagnosis... dizzyness.... yeah, she's dizzy alright... 

We did get a doctor to agree to write the state to take away her license for 6 months, until we track her progress and see if she improves, but she should NOT be driving.  Oh this will go over well with her... NOT!  Going to let my  sister handle this conversation, perhaps best to do with entire family present... 

Anyone ever have to deal with this???  #HowDidYouHandleThis?  #MomCantDrive #TakeAwayHerDriversLicense

She slept well, and was awake when I left for work today... 

I have sunshine hours today, so I will be home around noon... and will sift through all her NEW discharge papers and set up all the various doctor appointments...

#CaringForMom  #ElderlyCare  #AgingParent  #SupportForAgingParents  #TIA #Stroke

Mini stoke

And all I wanted to do was shop, but mom had another idea.

As we walked into Nordstoms, mom began to spiral down, not making sense and slurring words.  It was over in a matter of minutes but my daughter, the nurse, was with us and said she's having a stroke, we need to call 911 and get her to a hospital.

And we did, and she was and she is...

CT Scan inconclusive, MRI today and they believe she had a mini stroke, however, she's dehydrated and kidneys not operating to capacity.

Keeping her another night, don't want to release until they speak with our family doctor because hospital we transported her to hasn't any records on her for last 6 years...

An so it goes...

A Respite and Another Hospital Run

Well today is day 7 of my respite from mom.

My sister came up last Monday night to have mom come and stay at her place for the month of July... or til mom decides she's had enough and wants to come back.

Mom was a bit peeved when my sister came Monday night to bring her down her house.  Mom said she was feeling rushed... but the fact is mom had been packing and unpacking all week long in anticipation of this stay at my sister's, so we weren't rushing her.

Since she felt this way, I decided not to call her for fear she'd say come and get me now!  

This afternoon, my sister called to tell me she was at the ER with my mom... well her hubby was in ER room with mom, she was in ER waiting area... hubby went with mom in ambulance.

Seems mom had one of those spells where she becomes lethargic, unresponsive and starts moaning.  My b-i-l was with her the entire time that preceded this episode.  

My guess is, as was the case the last time this happened, they will admit her, do rounds of tests for a few days and they won't find what caused it.

It's always a parent, isn't it?

Love her dearly and hope she's home soon.  Still awaiting an update.  More to come.

I Owe A Progress Report

Well not really because I can do what I want but things have been busy for me and of course, mom is keeping me busy too... 

They were right, she does need to be supervised... she's definitely declining but that's okay, she's here and I am dealing with it as best I can.

My sister is saying we need to revisit assisted living... I am not pushing it... if she's happy at my place, I am happy to have her... happy is a relative term mind you.

There are challenges... she's sleep walked, she's gone in the wrong direction and gotten lost but found her way back home... she's forgetful with some things but my oh my, such a PIA with others... what are we doing today, next week, this weekend and if there is something planned, she's a stickler with when are we leaving, who's gonna be there, who's going with us... etc, etc, etc...  

Oh well, it happens... I'll try to post a few of the 'life moments' when I can... I really should do them as they occur, that was my intent when I started this whole It's Always ApParent thingy afterall.

Happy New Year and Welcome Home Mom!

Mom came home from the rehab facility yesterday...

First time she's been home since last year!  Hard to believe.

She went to the ER on NYE, then 6 days later to the rehab, and now, she's home.  YAY!

The visiting nurse just left the house.  Looks like they stopped two of mom's meds while she was away and added 3 meds.  The nurse is going to call the family doctor's office tomorrow to see if we can get her in for an appointment to go over her medications and which she should be on.

Even though the nurse said they ALWAYS recommend following the discharge instructions, we'd like to have the family doctor look at what's been done with her meds and for him to tell us how to proceed.

Her Blood Pressure is slightly elevated but I'd rather have the doctor tell us the right path forward.

Anyone else ever have this kind of issue and what did you decide to do?

#momsmovedin #caringformom #elderlycare #eldercare #momneedscare #lovemom

Dimentia, Let the F-U-N Begin!

Well, finally, it's been confirmed by the staff at the Rehabilitation facility, mom has dimentia.  Physically, she can do just about all things, but cognitively, she's not doing so good.  

I don't know too much about dimentia so my hitting the 'books' and doing research will commence now.

Between today being the anniversary of my Dad's death 28 years ago and the confirmation that mom is in early stages of dimentia, I'm feeling kinda low today.  I'm sad... but I realize I should be just the opposite and be happy for all the time I will have with mom.

I will have to learn new coping skills and how to deal with people with this disease.  My only wish is that my mother has the best, happiest life until she passes onto heaven.  I hope I can fulfill this.

I've already had the 'come to Jesus' meeting with my siblings letting them know we all need to make mom a priority in our lives and I need their help with her.  She will need their stimulation and to be taken out to get a change of scenery... I simply cannot do it alone.

Luckily, we are in agreement... but we'll see if the walk the walk when push comes to shove.

Sorry, a little to cliche-y?  Perhaps.

#elderlycare #momsmovedin #eldercare #dimentia #needhelpwithmom #lovemom 

Rehabilitation and Mom

I've stopped three times to visit mom.  

She seems better each time, however, I am worried about her mind.  I don't know that she fully understands what's going on.

She's fixated with my trip to Orlando... when do I leave, how long will I be away, how am I getting to the airport, am I packed, am I ready, etc...  I keep telling her not to worry about me and my trip.  She should focus on herself so she can get better and get home.

I don't know how long she will be in there nor do I know what type of assessment has been done and what qualifies as a 'get out of jail free' card that will spring her out to home.

Oh well, I have packing to do for my week long trip.  While I am away, the others will have to step up and take care of mom...

On a great note... her room is ready and waiting for her to come home and settle in.  I hope she likes it and is happy with it.

Ta Ta For Now!

#eldercare #elderlycare #momsmovedin #caringformom #lovemom #dimensiaandmom

Update on Mom...

Mom was moved to a Rehabilitation center around 8pm on Monday night.

Needless to say, the move (as they all do) made her confused.  I stopped by on Tuesday morning on my way to work and dropped off clothes for about 5 days.  She was very happy to see me but thought she was in the hospital asking if the high school was behind the building.

I explained that the high school is next to the hospital and now she was next to the hospital where my baby brother was born.  I know, it's confusing to you right!  

I had to leave because I had an 11am meeting at work and told her I'd stop by on my way home.

I did, visited for about an hour and 15 minutes.  My younger brother also stopped by about an hour after I arrived... then I left and headed home.

Although she did go to PT (Physical Therapy) she did not have any idea on a plan the may have been set after her assessment.  

One of us will have to talk to the personnel there to get answers.

I leave for Orlando on Sunday at the crack of dawn for a week of work.  I told her she may, or may not, be released while I am away.

Either way, I'd stop by on my way home and visit for a short bit before leaving.

#eldercare #takingcareofmom #momsmovedin #elderlycare #momneedsusnow #lovemom

Her Room is Just About Ready to Move into... FINALLY!

Here's where I am so far...

I've been working on it to finish it up while mom is in the hospital.

I hope she can come home and get to stay in her new room and get comfy.

We are set to move her original bedroom furniture from her house to mine on Sunday morning.  Enlisting her Grandsons to be the movers!

Mom picked the room color, she wanted a happy room.

I think she hit the nail on the head...

it's happy alright...

stay tuned, more layers to come!

:)

#eldercare #elderly #caringformom #parentalcare #momsmovedin