ESSENTIALS

Before I start this post, I wanted to thank everyone

who took the time to send me their kind words

and thoughtful encouragement. 

You do not know how helpful it has been.

I shouldn't be surprised, but I am, at how many people

are going or have gone through the same experiences.

 Mom has been home one week from the skilled care facility

and I am finally seeing some improvement.

Home Health Care is a Godsend.

They have been so helpful

and very generous with their skills and knowledge.

I have acquired more information

from them in a few short visits

than I did with the staff at Donalson

the entire thirty days she was there. 

For some reason it was

like pulling teeth to get information

from the nurses and aids.

The information about my Mom

that I did manage to get

was through asking questions,

they did not volunteer anything on their own. 

They even reprimanded me once

for trying to watch a therapy session

saying it was in violation of the other patient's privacy.

  I feel sorry for those patients that have no one

to be their advocate. 

Enough, I'm getting off my soapbox now

and onto the subject at hand.

Essentials, all the things you need when caring for 

Mom or Dad when they can't care for themselves.

This shower chair is one of the first things I

bought after moving in with the folks.

I'm not sure what they were doing before I got here

and feeling like a bad daughter for not knowing.

I have to own up to it...

I kept my head in the sand way too long.

Yesterday Mom got her first real bath

since coming home,

thanks again to Home Health. 

Dee came out and showed

me all the correct ways

to handle that very important task.

We did not have a hand held shower sprayer before

but we do now and it should make bathing much easier.

(I installed it myself)

I had already purchased a hand rail

but Dee showed me a way

to use the walker for extra support as well.

The wheelchair has come in very handy

since Mom has been home. 

So glad we had gotten it last year for transporting

her to and from the doctors.

  In the past, it was used only when she was

having a bad day,

 too weak for the walker.

Since she has been home it has gotten a lot of use,

but we are trying to wean her off it a bit

 and get her to use the walker more

and build up her strength.

Two more new purchases,

the bed rail, at the urging of the her therapist,

to keep Mom from falling out of bed

(she did so the first night back home)

and a support for pulling herself into a sitting position.

The second item, a rolling table

for eating in bed and

with the wheelchair.

It was my idea to get this one,

it seemed useful at the hospital and care center.

One last thing before I close,

this drinking cup

came home with her from Donalson

and it's a great way to make sure

she is getting enough water

throughout the day.

Well until next time

and again, thanks for the

encouragement.