Just need to talk to my friends (200)

Good morning to the early risers.

Loveskitties— The work on those blankets is truly art. The Paw Patrol, especially, made me smile.

David— It seems odd that the Senior Transportation van doesn't have the capacity to work for those with mobility issues. Perhaps they have an ADA-compliant van. Or consider Uber/GoGoGrandparent. The latter uses Uber/Lyft but it's a concierge service that is easier for seniors to manage. I know from a friend whose mom lives in suburban Boston it does operate in your area.

Carolynn— This is such a sad period for you. It's such a difficult transition.

Iris— I know we're on opposite sides of the country, but that sounds very like the virus DS and I had last month. I tested negative for COVID and Flu A/B, too. I suspect it's the one that landed mom in the hospital, too. She was also negative for flu, COVID and RSV. My cough is still, umm, productive. The nurse yesterday told me mom's cough was the most violent she'd ever heard. Yikes.

Ron— I'm so sorry. You and mom have very similar issues. She's been hospitalized since the 13th with pneumonia. She did 2 different antibiotics, IV steroids, breathing treatments every 4 hours. They tried, and failed, twice to wean her off the IV meds and onto oral. She's finally in all oral medications, done the antibiotics but still on a nebulizer treatment every 4 hours and on 40mg prednisone for now. BTW, your hand shaking is likely the result of the steroids you're being given. YMMV, but I find anything above 40mg/day or delivered IV really gets mom's hands rattling. I've had to cut her food and transfer her soup into a Styrofoam cup because the bowl of the spoon was empty by the time it got to her mouth.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________-

I failed miserably at getting a short rehab stay. On one hand, though, I think she's less likely to contract COVID at home and I think her cat is the best medicine for her.

I did put my foot down about the ambulation. She had a wonderful nurse yesterday who was very empathetic to how I was feeling. She talked to me about what the PT report offered. I sense she didn't like the discharge plan much either. I countered that I was not comfortable assuming responsibility for a patient who has not demonstrated the ability to walk. She hooked mom up to portable O2 and we did a circuit around the unit which is greater in distance than what she'll need to do at home. She did pretty well. I think we'll be OK.

The nurse did agree with me about the ridiculousness of the PT report including mom's need for "supervision of family" as a mobility aid. I just shook my head. There is no family, just Harshed B. Discharge is supposed to be today. I'm catching up on laundry so I can pack for my stay at her house. I've got to food shop for her house and bring some supplies from here— shower chair, wedge pillow, laptop. I want them to supply portable O2 (I have big tanks at her house and one on my car) and a rolling walker.

I'm going to need to rent a car. DH and I share one and DS's is in the shop awaiting a new clutch. I can't leave DS and DH without wheels and I'll need the car. Ugh.

And because I like to make life interesting, I set mom up with a telehealth visit with her psychiatrist. The doc rescheduled her 6 weeks out and she's overdue. I can do this from the hospital but will need a somewhat private place. Ugh again.

Maybe her roomie will be gone today. She was supposed to be discharged yesterday. She's been there 2 days with a concussion after a fall. She's a character— older than mom and something of a social activist. She seems to have hearing loss and ran Zoom meetings with the boards of 2 different Quake Meeting committees. She was focused, organized and articulate (and loud) during the meetings. Between family and friends called. She used the phone's speaker mode and was a whole different animal. With friends she adopted a kind of whiny little-old-lady voice. I had to laugh. I felt bad for her, though, dealing with mom's cough which is loud and kind of TMI.

Wish me luck today.
HB