Thursday, March 24, 2011

We had a "Care Plan" meeting with the staff at Woodbine this morning. It was very nice to sit down with Estelle's "main nurse" and her social worker and find out what's been happening in the last 10 days. She's been evaluated by all of the departments and each department (except for the pokey Physical and Occupational Therapy departments) had written an evaluation and plan of action for Estelle.

For the most part, everything will remain much the same as at The Manor. The medicines are all the same as is the feeding type and schedule. They are going to speak to the physician about cutting the oxygen from all the time to part of the time and monitor her closely to make sure her breathing remains good. This would be a big "YAY" if it can happen because it will make her much more mobile. It's sometimes hard to find a portable oxygen tank and a wheelchair which can accommodate it - especially since Mom uses a reclining wheelchair and those are almost never equipped with a tank holder. Plus, oxygen is drying and can get uncomfortable, especially if it's on all the time. On a purely emotional level, psychologically speaking, less is always more. Whenever something foreign is attached to your person you feel encumbered and dependent. That, in itself, is depressing. Two of my sons spent a good portion of their childhood attached to various medical devices - any time even one of them, no matter how tiny or for how short of a time, was removed it was a matter of great celebration for all of us. I doubt it is any different if you are 8 months or 8 years or 88 or 108. The simple act of turning your head is impeded somewhat by a cannula. Answering a phone is harder if there is an IV in the back of your hand or the crook of your arm. The more things you can get rid of the better you feel. We are, therefore, hoping Estelle does well without constant oxygen.

They are going to start getting her up and in a reclining wheelchair several times a week and we'll see how that goes. She did not like sitting up while in The Manor but she has asked several times since she's moved if she can get out of bed so we're holding good hopes there, too. If she tolerates the sitting up well we're planning on getting her out of her room as often as possible for an hour or two at a time or for however long she remains comfortable. There are lots of nice sitting rooms and balconies and outside areas that we're hoping she'll enjoy.

Her nurse did mention that he'd noticed an improvement in her mental status and her awareness since she's arrived so that's all positive news and we were very glad to hear our own thoughts confirmed by a professional. Sometimes it's easy to let hope color what you observe so I'm always happy when someone removed from the emotional aspects of caregiving sees something that they regard as positive.

We did visit with Estelle for a bit before the meeting took place. Unfortunately, she was sleeping and we could not wake her. She was sleeping quite peacefully, though, and she had just had a complete shower and a hairwash and we're beginning to think that the whole process simply wears her out.

We got permission from the staff to decorate her walls so we're bringing some of her art work from her condo to her over the weekend and making a collage of the pictures everyone's been kind enough to send.

And that's that for today. Dan went on to work after the meeting and I've come home to think about doing laundry.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying spring - although I hear it is snowing in places like MA and NJ. We do not have snow here yet, but they are threatening it over the weekend. Breaks my heart because if it dips below freezing the cherry blossoms, the magnolia blossoms and the dogwood flowers will all suffer damage. They do not last long enough as it is.

For now - these are at our back door.