Continuous Care

Just a brief update to let you know how my mom is doing. She has had a low-grade temperature the last few days and is dehydrated. She is eating a little and drinking, but not much. Her right leg is weeping (fluid is seeping out). She is incontinent and bed-ridden, but doesn't sleep all day long. She does watch some TV and her bed is by the window, so at least she can look outside.

She has been more agitated daily and they are giving her Ativan to keep her calm. She has pain but doesn't realize it. She has been getting morphine once or twice a day. Her head and back itch and I think that is all part of the fatal processes. She also has visible tumors on her abdomen (which is more rigid), and her right elbow and cheek are swollen from lymph nodes. A hospice nurse (usually Lorraine or Crystal) comes daily and changes her pain patch, as well.

I'm concerned about my dad because his memory is rapidly declining. He forgets to take his medicine and loses things more easily. My mom's nurse, Lorraine, found his hearing aid (lost for a month) in his car while she was looking for his lost cell phone (which she also found in the car). He rarely leaves my mom's side.

Their SeniorCorp caregiver, Denise, has been there for 2 weeks. She stays from 12-7 p.m. and helps the nurses, fixes meals, and cleans up the house. It gives me comfort knowing someone is there.

As of yesterday, a hospice nurse has been at the house 24 hours. They are staying again tonight and will decide tomorrow if she still needs continuous care. The continuous care nurse comes near the end of life to help the patient through the process. But if the patient stabilizes, the nurse goes to help someone else.

In addition to the physical issues with my mom, I have had to order a washer for them (ordered, then cancelled from Sears because of their HORRIBLE customer service, and then re-ordered from Home Depot) and buy groceries online from Farm Fresh (cool, except the groceries weren't ready when I went to pick them up). But the difference with the groceries is that Farm Fresh actually offered to deliver them to my parents' house for free. That's the difference in people who care. And I was SO grateful that they cared last night. Our law firm is also preparing for a trial in a couple of weeks, so it has been stressful at work, as well. And Sara's sprained ankle last week, coupled with Daniel ongoing huge load of homework, just adds to my exhaustion.

Thanks for the continued encouragement and prayers.

Love,
Anita