So the Hospice Evaluation Nurse was out today. She was here for four hours. As per everyone's commentary, she was wonderful. After talking with mom for a half hour (by herself, I left them alone), she visited with Cousin Sue and I. Yes, she's a candidate. And yes, I enrolled her. They've discontinued the one heart med she was taking, and all she's on is Senna-S (2X/day).
Mom's doctor joined her here, and we had a good, informative visit. Not so much as "things to come" as the assurance that things were fluid and no certainty what lies ahead except that mom would be comfortable.
After she'd talked to mom, who I introduced to mom as "your visiting nurse," I told the nurse I'd prefer not mentioning "hospice" to her -- a silent promise I made to her years ago when she said she'd NEVER want to know when she was dying. They will honor that promise as best they can, still being honest. All I can ask for. If mom asks, she deserves the truth. (She won't.)
She was "chanting/singing" while they were here. Both thought this was unexpressed anxiety and a function of her dementia . . . meaning she'll be doing straaaange things as time goes on. That I believe.
Some of you may have read that she got a cut on her leg late last week. It ended up an ER visit (though didn't start that way) with, probably, ten steri-strips pulling the skin together. They disappeared. IOW, the only thing that could have happened to them (about five days into the bandage) is that she ate them. They were removed and nowhere to be found, OMG.
It's been 2-1/2 hours since hospice left (started this post much earlier in the day...just finishing up). The new supplier's oxygen has already arrived -- an oxygen generator and two spare tanks for power outages.
Now, it's 7:45 in Chicago. The drug company just delivered some meds (the only one she'll be taking now is Lorazapam which I'll give her in the middle of the night if she wakes up and starts chanting.
I am soooo glad I called Hospice. And thank you sincerely to all of you who encouraged me to do so. It was so right. I feel as if a huge burden has been lifted. And, thanks to their bedside manner with ME, I know I made the right decision at the right time.
Sincerely. I am so glad I found this site. Bless ya'll. I'll always try to pay it forward.
You may still find the Steri-Strips. My mom can hide things now in some pretty odd places. I think I know everywhere to look and then I'll find something else tucked away in a totally new spot. :)
It's scary, it's heartbreaking and also, the right thing to do :) (((hugs)))
Oh... we love ya smarty pants!... and thankful you share so much here, least for me, it has helped a lot!
now... how can I get my mother to sit and relax between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00p.m?? Lately she bounces ( Yes UTI) but still.... whew
I thought I was going to have to wait for my cremation to have a hot, smokin' body, but with the last year of caregiving? I'm gettin' close(er). Up-down-up-down-up-down . . . I sure know exactly what you mean.
*Hugs*
Yes Maggie you made the right decision hard as it seems at the time to face up to that reality
NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If somebody ANYBODY could teach me how to put on an adult diaper, I'd kiss them. Roll this way; rolll that way; roll back; roll again; lay on your back. Poor mom!!!!!! Jesus, I shoulda' had kids.
And yes, Pam, that's exactly what I've found 2.5 mil (whatever the measure) is good for about four hours. I'd go NO sleep without it. She cries, she mumbles, she carries on conversations with dead family, and then, of course, her famous Chicken Little lecture. ;)
If I thought she was REALLY crying, it'd break my heart; but I think it's some kind of vocalization. If I interrupt her, she can still put a smile on her face. So cute. God love 'er.
glad you have hospice maggie . when the body begins shutting down they make sure the patient doesnt suffer thru it . i was glad to put my mom out of her agitated state -- it was pointless for her to be aware during that time ..
If you would like to have her get a bit more nutrition ask hospice what they suggest. For my mom, since she needs a low-volume feedings, they order cases of TWOCAL HN with FOS (Abbot labs). It has prebiotics which is good for colon health and will make for a nicer diaper. Also gluten free and ok for the lactose intolerant. TWOCal an institutional product so hospice has to order it but Medicare totally pays for it.
Some of the other "drinks" (like Ensure) are dairy based and can produce nasty diapers. Boost as it's fruit based doesn't seem to have this issue.