Day 70

Wednesday July 31, 2013

Physical:

This was a much easier day.  There were no trips anywhere, so minimal getting up and down.  I let DH stay in bed until the aide came.  Actually, the aide and the nurse got there at the same time, 11ish.  That worked well for him.  After the nurse checked vitals, we talked while the aide got him bathed.

I didn't ask about the pills, since it seemed clear that wasn't an option.  She brought a pill box last week, which told me she had talked to the SW; but setting them up, or pre-filling syringes, never came up.  I guess I should ask at some point.  We did discuss what meds they cover, and she mentioned that everything in the "comfort kit" is covered.  I haven't even looked to see wh's in it.  They cover Dulcolax, which I have a half full bottle of; Ambien, which doesn't do him any good (and she is supposed to be checking on an alternate to that); and Paxil, which I just got refilled.  But on the Paxil she's going to check with the hospice doctor to see if we can stop it - he's never thought it did him any good.  She's also going to have the doctor review his meds to see if there are any others that aren't really necessary at this point.

He was up for approximately his usual 3 hours and then wanted to lay back down.  He was only up after that long enough to sit on the commode. 

He ate a pork chop for lunch, but only ate half of one for supper.  I'd had to wake him up and he was convinced it was morning.  He did eat a piece of cake at lunch, but didn't want any at night this time.  And he refused to eat any sides; but before lunch he did eat a nectarine.

People:

As I mentioned, the nurse and the aide came by.  I have a list started of questions for the nurse for next time.

Not long after they left, his cousin and her husband came by.  They'd been to their (his and cousin's) grandmother's funeral.  I didn't even know she'd died; but she was well over 100.  I'm guessing his sister didn't tell us because she knew we couldn't go.  Then again, she may have mentioned it Monday and I just missed the reference.  I would have sent flowers I guess, if I'd known.

There were no more visitors, not even the little girls.

The insurance agent came by though, for me to sign yet another form.  

The *other* son called, may come visit.  And the *good* son's best friend's mother called, she also wants to come visit.  I do appreciate knowing when people are coming!

Emotional:

I had a calmer day.  It seems I have better days when the nurse comes, because I can tell her my concerns and she doesn't make me feel like I'm being a drama queen!  At night I got a bit frustrated with him.  I had to wake him up to take the last set of pills, and he was acting weird.  Instead of just taking them, he kept trying to fish them out of the cup with his fingers.  He wanted to know how many so he took the right amount.  And he kept turning the cup over, so several got dropped.  I ended up sticking most of them into his mouth!  I definately have to come up with another system for night.  Maybe I'll try getting him to pick them up one at a time from my hand.