Sunday, May 31, 2020

An attempted conversation with my mother. Her speech was slurred and labored;
She expressed that she wasn’t being fed;
That she saw something in the kitchen area that was glowing so she crawled to it to prevent a fire. From her chair. To my knowledge, she hasn’t been sitting in her chair, and I am not sure she can get to it. And there is nothing “glowing” in the kitchen;
That the aide (#2,Judy) was mean to her, that I should report her, get a new aide;
On and on.
Let me talk to Judy.
Judy, she wants to talk to you.
Judy began to get defensive, now I had to smooth her feathers.
“She wanted oatmeal, I made her oatmeal and I spoon fed your mother. She ate.”
It seems she also had lunch. And I’m thinking, she is hungry but doesn’t know how to say so. Just keep offering her food.”

Monday, June 1, 2020

8:30 am

A text from Judy.
Good morning Sue your mom was given her meds and at around 12 midnight she got up threw everything off
sat up trying to get out of the bed in the process of putting her back in bed she fought me now she is resting after being changed. I put a pillow by the small table so she won’t hit her head trying to get up again also a chair by the bed I hope she will continue to sleep until later in the morning.

Exit Judy, enter Candy for changing of the guard.

My mother still thinks the stove is on.

I offer my two cents:

“If she says the stove is on, tell her you’ll check it and make sure it is off. She is anxious and fearful and needs reassurance. I think we have to listen to her words and think about what she is really saying.

While she is sleeping: “Open the blinds a little. You can even put the (decorative) screen in front of the window to let more light in and keep it out of her eyes. maybe even open the window for a bit and let in some fresh air.”

The window has not been opened for years.
It’s time to breathe.

The series starts here:
Part 1: And The Band Played On … a mother’s life, a daughter’s journey

The previous post is here

The next post is here