It gets you from head to toe Hello, again. I wanted to fill you in on what has been going on. I have been quiet, taking a long-needed break, during my mother’s new 24-hour care which began last Friday, with the second of two aide’s who had been sleeping in. I called a few times to check in and things seemed to be going fairly well. My mother’s physician reported that he had visited and that “she turned a corner.” The clergy from hospice called and reported that she was “very related.” I had two  lengthy, actual conversations with my … Continue reading →

After having received the twenty-four hour care verdict from the Care Manager: one person, live-in, I called for an appeal. I still felt that there should be two-twelve hour aides. I was told a live-in aide needs her own room. How could that work with my mother in a studio? I was worried about losing the two women who were working now. I was fearful of their possibly contracting the virus. I was anxious about of how they would deal with my mother who insists on living in the dark and who seems to wander between two worlds. I was … Continue reading →

  My previous blog ended on a mortifying note; I never envisioned my mother in the throes of a sexual encounter, least not with my father, and it is an event that can leave one laughing and crying at the same time. I have thought my mother was near death many, many times in our lives. I am amazed at how strong she is and how she manages to sneak out of the grasp of the Grim Reaper over and over again. Somewhere in this series of blogs I have said that my mother’s motto was “life can turn on … Continue reading →

    I had a request in to my mother’s Managed Long Term Care (Medicaid) for more hours of coverage. Clearly, eleven hours of care would not be enough and as we didn’t know what we were facing, we had to be prepared. I had gone through thousands of her savings over the years all for home care; we had gone through enough money that she had squirreled away when interests rates were high and IRAs and CDs had yields you didn’t laugh at. Gone. Down to a few bucks that were destined for toilet paper and a dish towel. … Continue reading →

  Everything was orchestrated over the last twenty-four hours: the aides are in place, they received their protective gear. The main aide, who we call “Candy,” arrived at 9:00 am to meet with her supervising nurse. I allowed her access to the apartment so she could see what was going on: it was left a MESS by the previous aide. Candy started wiping things down and doing laundry. My mother arrived and cried with joy when she saw her main aide (who she has, on many occasions been verbally abusive to, but maybe that is part of the new normal: … Continue reading →

Good morning to all of my friends in Limbo-land, the land of fear, dread, darkness, confusion, and the Covid19 Virus. Everyday is Groundhog Day in Limbo-land. I am unable to get information directly from any professional but I have been calling in each day to patient relations. Date/rep 4/19 Erica 4/20 Susan/Caterina temp 97.9 97.16 pulse 76 46 # breaths 20 18 o2 level 93% given 2 liters 94% given 2 liters Blood Pressure 129/76 136/45 —> normal notes feeding assist, trying to move   I spoke to two people this morning who provide the statistics to ascertain that I … Continue reading →

4/16/20 Meanwhile, back at the war zone on this Day of Days, you will not believe this story. I had spoken to agencies all day trying to figure out a plan for my mother who seemed to be quickly on the way out: not able to eat, barely drinking and unintelligible. I called at least twenty people and got few call backs, upping my anxiety, because it dawned on me, my mother was going to be alone, she gets eleven hours of care, she is alone at night, she is in a severely weakened state, a fall risk and blind. … Continue reading →