Hey ~~ Had my talk w/ a nurse yesterday. They assessed dad. I think I'll wait for awhile to start Pal Care. I said his legs have been hurting him for awhile b/c we went on a small walk along the Missouri River, which he grew up on. He has been a bricklayer his whole life and his legs are getting tired. I have been giving him Advil. I asked if I could have some Tramadol or Flexeral to help his legs feel better. YIKES!! She said it will be Morphine they will start prescribing! Then she asked if he was anxious or depressed and would he need help w/ that. Did I read most of those posts here correctly that stated Morphine and Ativan are the last resort for people on hospice care? I picked him up after his supper last night to go get a RB Float before bed and he wanted me to take him by the local senior center to try and dance to the big band! Is this someone who needs morphine? Am I reading too much into the M&A combo? Am I Thinking he's better than he really is? He wanted a used bike from the GW the other day so he could ride to the pool 3 blocks away. His legs are too sore, so "No", but is this a man who needs Morphine and an anti anxiety combo? Should I ask for a second assessment as dad had slept thru the whole interview? I had given him an Advil and he felt better and fell asleep just when she got there for her appt! Dang It!! He is so fun and happy for every day he's given. He looked like Dead Man Sleeping yesterday! LMK if anyone has a few minutes. Thank you all you dear people!
My mom lived in independent living and had atrial fib and pulmonary fibrosis. She started having episodes where she'd go semi-comatose for about 30 minutes at a time. She had no short-term memory, so wouldn't remember what happened an hour later. Those episodes started to increase and her appetite decreased to where she really didn't want to eat. She was spending more time in bed sleeping. When that happened, I called in hospice. She got the morphine and ativan combo. She was on hospice for one week before she passed away. There were clear signs she was going downhill (and had been since February, when I first saw one of these "episodes").
So we'd need to more about your dad to have a better idea of where he is with his medical condition. Him wanting to do things doesn't necessarily mean he's in good shape. My mom said she was "back to normal" within three days of dying. She just had no memory of what was happening, which was a blessing overall.
I'm also surprised the assessment person (a nurse, I assume) didn't wake your dad up to talk to him. They woke my mom up when they came to assess her.
you are right. I did ask a Q here last week about Pal Care when the DR ordered it but I couldn't figure out where to continue thread! Ha! I'm the one that needs the Ativan!
I was trying to keep dad awake for the interview but he was up all night w/ leg pain and he fell into a stupor sleep when he felt better. I was literally running back and forth from the elevator to his room every 20 seconds saying "Hang on dad! She will be here any minute!"
BOOM! He fell asleep the minute she walked in the room. I'm sure she sees this all day every day.
Hallucinations all the time now, BAD ones at night. Horrible Leg pain but he gets thru it. Shortness of breathe. Short term Memory about 30 seconds.
But Boy is he Funny! And loves every second he alive!
If there are any other benefits or procedures, can someone chime in about it?
I will get him checked out for that. I've been to the dr's office like 7x's the last 2wks.
It seems like we never get the real answers. He is DONE w/ drs he has said again.
I totally agree that narcotics and anxiotitics are not good drugs for the elderly for routine use but if the condition demands it they are very valuable.