A Day Not Like Any Other
Yesterday, as we do every day we went to visit my mom in the rehabilitation nursing center. This place is for the birds as my grandmother used to say. So, it wasn't a good day at all for her. My plan was to go around lunch time stay a few hours then come back home and finish school with my son. Although we did take a few things related to school for him to do. We got there and she was in the dinning room or what they call a dinning room. The table and chairs have seen better days to say the least. The newest thing in there is the giant flat screen TV they have on the wall, and that's at least 5 years old. But, still newer then anything else in that place.
So, after weaving our way around all the people, wheelchairs, walkers, tables and chairs we found my mom sitting at a table in the far corner with her room mate, Rita, the hall walker. Rita never stays still for long and was sitting there with a broom in her hand, I don't know where or how she got it but she had it sitting at the table. She doesn't speak much. In fact, I have never heard her say one word since my mom has been there. But, every now and then she does smile at my son.
On the TV was an episode of Dr. Phil. I thought that was a bit ironic. But, nonetheless he was on talking to a couple about infidelity in their marriage. Most of the people in there were asleep. I guess they had no interest in the show. My mom was asleep too. She rarely watches him at home. This man with an activity directors badge on was standing in the back of the room filling cups with coffee and handing them out to people who wanted it. A few people had some but more people who were able left the room entirely either to go back to their rooms or check out the other TV down on the other end in what they call the second dinning room.
Lunchtime rolled around a little after noon. Way before noon I told them at the front desk, the in charge person, that my mom had to use the bathroom. She can't go alone yet and requires help.
Well, around that place getting help is a hit it miss when it isn't lunch time or near lunch time but don't let it get close to lunch time and by close I mean 30 minutes to 45 minutes close it less. What little CNA staff they have are busy with putting out trays, getting people in the dinning room, looking for people to get them there, or just running around like chickens with their necks cut off in circles. My no is sitting there trying to hold it as best she could and after 5 trips to the what they call a nurses station, a small counter with a desk and chair behind it and files and cups and straws in front, someone finally came 30 minutes later. I almost went ballistic. But, I knew that would do no good so I tactfully and calmly told them how I felt. I heard the usual excuse about being understaffed and over worked. Although, I am sympathetic to their issues, I am more interested in getting the best care for my mom while she is there.
The lunch tray is served. Meanwhile, this woman who was admiring my sons half eaten bag of gummie gold fish asked for some. She was hungry and ironically had to go to the bathroom also. Josh gave her a few and she was happy. I wish I could say my mom was happy with the lunch tray. She wasn't. She said it smelled bad. I tired to convince her it was good food it just was not seasoned too much but still good. Josh even tried a taste of the mash potatoes to try to get her to taste them. She did but that was her first and last taste of those. The chicken was shredded up on the plate and looked more like tuna then chicken. A bite of that she was done. All the trying in the world could not get her to even taste the strawberry mixed with banana stuff they had on there for dessert. The ice tea was a hit and she drank that and had a piece of birthday cake my sister brought for her from my sisters stepdaughter.
Lunch was a rap for her.
After her non lunch she wanted to rest. Apparently breakfast is at 7 so they are up by 7 in the dinning room waiting. So, my mom was tired. On a sunny day I can convince her to go outside for a little bit. But, no sun, no outside. Back to the room it was. I could tell she was sleepy so she got back in bed to rest. Ten seconds later here comes the physical therapist. She managed to get my mom back up after much protest, and got her doing leg excerises and some walking in the hall. About 20-25 min later that was that. My mom went back to resting.
An hour later she woke up saying she was too hot. I out my hand on her head and back and she was really warm. Now, pushing the nurse's button by the bed is absolutely pointless. I am convinced its just there for decoration. You can press it all day and night and nobody will come in a timely manner if at all. I tested that theory a few times. So, I walk the halls looking for someone to take my moms temperature. A simple task you would think. But, think again. I talked to 2 people before one person showed up to take it. She did have a little fever. My mom refused the Tylenol they offered as a solution and said she was cooling off. She cooled off and went back to sleep.
Before long she had to use the bathroom again. I secretly cussed out the staff in my head before I ventured in the hall yet again trying to find help. Help was a long time coming and once again I voiced my opinion not so tactfully this time to the head of nursing this time.
By this time I knew it was going to be a long day at that place. I felt we needed to stay. Stay we did. We stayed until they kicked us out politely at 8pm when visiting hours were over. In between dinner was served and it was enchiladas and rice. It was barely touched by my mom who by now had convinced herself the food as making her sick. ( a part of her vascular dementia she got after her small stroke in the hospital which they think she had) so, it was pretty pointless trying to tell her otherwise that day.
We thought, hoped and prayed, she would be back home by now in the time they gave us but it seems according to them two more weeks in this for lack of a better word "hell". Today is a new day. I hope its a better day.
So, after weaving our way around all the people, wheelchairs, walkers, tables and chairs we found my mom sitting at a table in the far corner with her room mate, Rita, the hall walker. Rita never stays still for long and was sitting there with a broom in her hand, I don't know where or how she got it but she had it sitting at the table. She doesn't speak much. In fact, I have never heard her say one word since my mom has been there. But, every now and then she does smile at my son.
On the TV was an episode of Dr. Phil. I thought that was a bit ironic. But, nonetheless he was on talking to a couple about infidelity in their marriage. Most of the people in there were asleep. I guess they had no interest in the show. My mom was asleep too. She rarely watches him at home. This man with an activity directors badge on was standing in the back of the room filling cups with coffee and handing them out to people who wanted it. A few people had some but more people who were able left the room entirely either to go back to their rooms or check out the other TV down on the other end in what they call the second dinning room.
Lunchtime rolled around a little after noon. Way before noon I told them at the front desk, the in charge person, that my mom had to use the bathroom. She can't go alone yet and requires help.
Well, around that place getting help is a hit it miss when it isn't lunch time or near lunch time but don't let it get close to lunch time and by close I mean 30 minutes to 45 minutes close it less. What little CNA staff they have are busy with putting out trays, getting people in the dinning room, looking for people to get them there, or just running around like chickens with their necks cut off in circles. My no is sitting there trying to hold it as best she could and after 5 trips to the what they call a nurses station, a small counter with a desk and chair behind it and files and cups and straws in front, someone finally came 30 minutes later. I almost went ballistic. But, I knew that would do no good so I tactfully and calmly told them how I felt. I heard the usual excuse about being understaffed and over worked. Although, I am sympathetic to their issues, I am more interested in getting the best care for my mom while she is there.
The lunch tray is served. Meanwhile, this woman who was admiring my sons half eaten bag of gummie gold fish asked for some. She was hungry and ironically had to go to the bathroom also. Josh gave her a few and she was happy. I wish I could say my mom was happy with the lunch tray. She wasn't. She said it smelled bad. I tired to convince her it was good food it just was not seasoned too much but still good. Josh even tried a taste of the mash potatoes to try to get her to taste them. She did but that was her first and last taste of those. The chicken was shredded up on the plate and looked more like tuna then chicken. A bite of that she was done. All the trying in the world could not get her to even taste the strawberry mixed with banana stuff they had on there for dessert. The ice tea was a hit and she drank that and had a piece of birthday cake my sister brought for her from my sisters stepdaughter.
Lunch was a rap for her.
After her non lunch she wanted to rest. Apparently breakfast is at 7 so they are up by 7 in the dinning room waiting. So, my mom was tired. On a sunny day I can convince her to go outside for a little bit. But, no sun, no outside. Back to the room it was. I could tell she was sleepy so she got back in bed to rest. Ten seconds later here comes the physical therapist. She managed to get my mom back up after much protest, and got her doing leg excerises and some walking in the hall. About 20-25 min later that was that. My mom went back to resting.
An hour later she woke up saying she was too hot. I out my hand on her head and back and she was really warm. Now, pushing the nurse's button by the bed is absolutely pointless. I am convinced its just there for decoration. You can press it all day and night and nobody will come in a timely manner if at all. I tested that theory a few times. So, I walk the halls looking for someone to take my moms temperature. A simple task you would think. But, think again. I talked to 2 people before one person showed up to take it. She did have a little fever. My mom refused the Tylenol they offered as a solution and said she was cooling off. She cooled off and went back to sleep.
Before long she had to use the bathroom again. I secretly cussed out the staff in my head before I ventured in the hall yet again trying to find help. Help was a long time coming and once again I voiced my opinion not so tactfully this time to the head of nursing this time.
By this time I knew it was going to be a long day at that place. I felt we needed to stay. Stay we did. We stayed until they kicked us out politely at 8pm when visiting hours were over. In between dinner was served and it was enchiladas and rice. It was barely touched by my mom who by now had convinced herself the food as making her sick. ( a part of her vascular dementia she got after her small stroke in the hospital which they think she had) so, it was pretty pointless trying to tell her otherwise that day.
We thought, hoped and prayed, she would be back home by now in the time they gave us but it seems according to them two more weeks in this for lack of a better word "hell". Today is a new day. I hope its a better day.
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