Mental decline
Even minute by minute - you can stand almost anything in that time frame.
TomKitten--
I'm saving minute-by-minute for really fraying times.
Noddy - "hold your dominion"!
So glad to see the words "visiting nurses". Ahhhhhhh,
Mental decline
If the word "senility" is in the air, even if not mentioned, there is a certain amount of relief that home health, visiting nurse, perhaps eventually Hospice, will, in a way, take the decision out of your hands. It is they who know when to step in and how far; your decision was made when you let them into your life.
I never really made the decision for Bob to live in a nursing home, nor for involving Hospice. These were just the next, logical, and unavoidable steps. I think my original decision was made when Bob lost it, and I had to call the social worker from our Wellness Center for help. Everything flowed from that - and I knew it would. Or maybe it was a few weeks later when he fell and I realized that I couldn't help him get up. That's when I really knew that a nursing home was inevitable, not very far down the road. Hospice also wasn't really a choice; it was the only thing. I was consulted and advised every step of the way, but everyone knew the answers. Including me.
Once the nursing home became inevitable, the worst thing was waiting to hear whether Clark House, specifically, had a bed for him. Thank God they did, but the 24 hours I waited to hear were some of the longest 24 hours of my life.
It's a sad thought, but there may well be times when even second-by-second will seem too long. But hang in there...
Osso--
I knew when I was asked to sign the discharge papers from the hospital that Someone Had Noticed.
With luck Mr. Noddy will have the VN physical therapist whom he likes. He's showing considerable suspicion of me and distrust of my motives, but he needs to trust someone.
TomKitten--
I've been watching Mr. Noddy deteriorate for at least twelve years. Now that the deterioration has official recognition, knowledge isn't as lonely.
Mental decline
Quote:Now that the deterioration has official recognition, knowledge isn't as lonely.
You are absolutely right, Noddy; there's no question about it.
There are things you simply can't do, physically; that alone makes the outside help imperative. Collapsing under stress isn't part of a good game plan, and even just knowing that "official recognition" has been made, must ease a lot of the stress of caring for Mr Noddy.
The Home Health Aid was here to help Mr. Noddy with his shower. He greeted her by announcing that her presence wasn't necessary.
We talked him into a shower with the bathtub bench--his first since Sunday in the Rehab Center.
Then he bragged and boasted and contradicted himself. Finally he threw a small snit when the Home Health Aid wouldn't crawl under the house for my three-wheeled walker (which is designed for balance, not for bearing 230 pounds of weight).
I'm not feeling well (chronic intestinal troubles) but he threw another small snit until I agreed to drive him down to coffee. I finally consented to drive him down, but he'll have to find a ride home himself--even if it would inconvenience someone else.
I'm sure his file with the Visiting Nurses will be growing thicker and thicker.
Hold Your Dominion Noddy - you do it well and you should be proud of you.
Izzie--
Thanks for the kind thoughts which you have triple rows to hoe--and all of them in stony ground.
TomKitten--
Once upon a time, Mr. Noddy was good at reading people's. No longer.
Hang on, Dotty, hang on.
(that's a little signal from The Empress. I've been keeping her and Brenda Lee updated.)
EhBeth--
All positive thoughts are most welcome.
Tell Eugene that I'd like to watch her holding Mr. Noddy's leash for a day. As for Brenda, I met her doppleganger in the Rehab Therapy Room one visiting day.
The woman had redish hair, a habitual smile and coped with ostentatious helplessness with a firm hand.
The Empress, Set, two other friends (one has posted here as Lucy1), and I have a dinner and concert series together. Set and his girlfriends.
We traditionally put The Empress on one side of the fella - as she can quell him best. The night Brenda Lee joined us, he didn't have a chance. The other two ladies were very entertained watching him under the double onslaught.
If Brenda Lee wasn't dealing with some significant family health issues right now, I'd bring the troupe down to give you some support.
EhBeth--
Poor Set, double-whammied by two independent, formidable women.
Send my best to Brenda Lee. I'm hoping to escape to NYC in May and would love to see her--with all her problems solved, of course.
Mr. Noddy has decided he doesn't need a walker--he's now going out to coffee using only a cane. This is trying, terribly trying, but hearing him brag about his cleverness is worse.
There is a robin in the back yard. I'm sympathetic to the robin showing off.
Mr. Noddy will, I'm sure, be explaining any delay in his recovery to the visiting medical folks.
I'm very glad they seem to be more involved now - real-life awareness and dominion-holding-assistance is good.
The ladies are keen to go back to NYC. Hopefully matters will be settled enough with Brenda's daughter and dad that we'll be able to move forward with planning.
Mr. Noddy went off to coffee today using a cane--not even a quad cane--instead of his wheeled walker.
The postage for shipping Mr. Noddy would be much more expensive than for Penny the A2K Hamster, but I'm considering a similar old fashioned Grand Tour.
Perhaps Mr. Noddy would be in the box-with-air-holes.
Perhaps I'd be in the box-with-air holes.
Any volunteers for manning/womaning way stations?
He certainly would be a great enrichment in mother's/aunt's nursing home ...
Walter--
He loves preening for little old ladies.
Problem: Getting him out of the States and into Germany.
I easily could take him out in May - since I'm flying back in business class, I don't have such luggage limits.
