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.
