Friday 30 December 2016

Mouse poop

Friday, December 30, 2016
Mom and Donna were sitting at the table.
I went to mom's room to check her laundry, etc.
Her poinsettia is not doing well.
I found a mouse poop again.  This is the 3rd time in 3 weeks.
Mom met me in the hall as I was going to the dining room.
She had to use the toilet.  She didn't seem to have any issues.
Jacquie and Ailene were both not there so I sat in Jacquie's spot.
We had "pork ribs" (reconstituted pork ribs), mashed potatoes with gravy and green and yellow beans.  Blueberry cobbler for dessert.  We all enjoyed the meal.  I peeled oranges for mom and Donna.  Both mom and Donna seem to have runny noses.  I gave mom two vitamin D pills as well.
After dinner we watched a bit of Momma's family and then we played card bingo.
Anna, mom, Donna and Michael.  They really enjoy it.  I should take a photo one time.

Tuesday 27 December 2016

Bingo with giant cards and reorganizing Donna's top drawer

Tuesday, December 27th, 2016
I didn't visit yesterday because of the "blizzard."
Mom, Donna and Ailene were seated for dinner.  Brayden was playing the piano.
I went to mom's room to check on her laundry, plant, closet, clothes drawer, etc.
As I was leaving, mom was coming to her room to use the toilet.
She asked me for help.  She was disoriented.  I motioned that she was supposed to pull down her pants and sit on the toilet.  She used a lot of toilet paper.  I told her to throw it in the toilet.  I showed her how to flush the toilet. Then she washed her hands and we put the paper towel in the garbage.  She was going to use the bib that was there by the sink.  I should have put the bib in the hamper, but I forgot.
We had crusted fish with tartar sauce, rice and cooked carrots.  Dessert was peach cobbler.  Mom mushed up everything on her plate.  She ate most of it and she ate all her dessert.  I gave her a few pieces of orange and she ate that too.  I gave Ailene half of one of my fish squares.  It tasted like McDonald's filet-o-fish.  I gave Donna some orange sections.  Ailene prefers tangerines.
Ailene said that both Donna and mom weren't feeling well yesterday.  Donna said that her legs weren't working properly.  I noticed that today she was slower than usual.  Mom seemed fine, but I gave her a couple of vitamin D pills anyway.  They both seemed to have runny noses.
After dinner we went back to the room.  I reorganized Donna's top drawer.  I brought empty Christmas card boxes and used them to sort her things.  I put all her chocolate bars in a box, another box for her toiletries, another  for old photos, and the last for her combs.
I'll have to check her other drawers on another day.
Then we went to play card bingo.  Ming used the big cards I gave him.  They are huge and very visible.  Mom and Donna did not win, but Anna won and so did Joan (the new lady beside mom).
Shanta was mad at Irma because Irma had grabbed her arm.  I guess Irma noticed Shanta had a card and was trying to let her know.  Then Irma was mad because she was sure that Ming had said 4 of hearts instead 2 of hearts and turned her card over anyways.
It was really icy walking to the bus stop.  I tried to walk on the side of the sidewalk where there was more snow, because it was icy and really slippery.  I almost went down crossing at the light-controlled intersection because of black ice.  Yikes!


Monday 26 December 2016

Missing toothbrush

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Everyone was seated for lunch when I arrived.  It was a beautiful sunny day.
Jacquie wasn't there so Chris could sit in her spot.  Chris arrived at 12:15.  He's usually late.
Teresa, the Food Services Supervisor, came to rebuke me for not making reservations in advance.
I did call and leave a message on Dec. 9th.  I also tried to e-mail, but it didn't work.  I informed Blake about this, but nothing has been done about it.  I also called the kitchen a few days later to confirm that mom would be having two guests.  Anyways, long story short we were served our lunch.  Chris, of course, had to deal with none of this.

Donna and Ailene were both wearing Christmas red.  Mom was wearing a festive top as well, but hers was subdued. Mom wasn't sure how to eat her seafood croissant sandwich.  I tired to get her to hold it in her hands and bite off pieces.  In the end, I cut smaller pieces which she then bit off.  She also like her cream of mushroom soup.  I was happy that she ate her lettuce and tomato.  I cut up the tomatoes for her.  There was no dressing, but she ate it anyways and didn't complain.
About halfway through the meal, mom excused herself to go to the washroom.  I went to check on her.  She had stuffed some tissue paper between her legs, so I told her to throw it in the toilet, but she insisted on putting it in the garbage can. She had a little accident.  I got her to change her underwear. Everything was fine.  We went back to join the others to finish lunch.  Ailene's daughter and granddaughters dropped by as well.

Mary's son and daughter-in-law were visiting.  The son went to heat up some Christmas pudding for her lunch.  I commented that Mary's hair looked nice and the daughter-in-law said that she was supposed to get her hair done once a week, but it didn't seem to be happening.
I noticed that mom's toothbrush was gone and in it's place was an electric one.  I showed it to Donna. It turned out to be Mary's.

Donna said her toothpaste and toothbrush were missing.  I looked through Donna's drawers and found a half-eaten bag of Doritos, a couple of full bags of Doritos, lots of milk chocolate, used tissues, etc. I threw out a few things.  I also found mom's pink Sensodyne toothbrush. Next time I'll have to organize Donna's drawer.

I went to the nurse's station and talked to Donna's care worker and she said she would ask Donna's sister to bring her a toothbrush and toothpaste.  She said that Donna's sister dropped by quite often.

I then had a brilliant idea.  I asked Donna about her overnight bag. Donna brought out a bag of adult diapers and in that bag, I found the plastic bag with her personal hygiene effects.


Saturday 24 December 2016

Donna is back

Saturday, December 24, 2016
Donna is back!  Thank heavens!  The world is back to normal.
Mom, Donna and Ailene were sitting at the dinner table.
Ailene said that Donna had come back at lunch.  Jacquie didn't join us for dinner.
Mom had already consumed her milk and juice.  She doesn't really like the tea with milk.
We had herbed chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and Brussels sprouts.  Bread pudding for dessert.  Yum.  Mom ate everything.  We shared an orange and mom took a banana.
After dinner we went back to the room.  While mom was using the toilet I asked Donna about her visit with her sister.  Donna said they went out for roast beef dinner.  She said her brother-in-law did some strange things like eat off other people's plates.  She said they stayed up late socializing with visitors.  She had a very nice time, but now she was tired.
While Donna was using the toilet, mom and I went through her photo book.  Mom smiled a lot.  Sometimes she could recognize herself, sometimes she couldn't, but she always enjoys looking at the photos.
We went to join the others in the television room.  They were all watching the news.  Shanta was sitting between her son and his wife.
At 6 o'clock we started to play card bingo.  Michael won 3 times.  Donna and Anna won 2 times each.  We played for about 45 minutes.  We all had a nice time.
Mom can recognize suits, but she doesn't seem to pay attention to the number.  In fact, she doesn't recognize a face card.  Then she tried to take the card from me instead of flipping her card over.  It's okay, the others help her.



Friday 23 December 2016

No Donna and Peter the cat

Friday, December 23, 2016
Only Ailene was seated at the table when arrived.  I went in search of Mom and Donna.  I found mom sitting on her bed.  I asked mom if Donna was in the washroom.  One of the care aides told me that Donna went to stay with her family.  Yikes!  A nurse told me that she had considered calling me because mom was in distress.
I brought mom to the dining room and Jacquie and Ailene filled me in with the details.  Donna's sister had come to pick her up after lunch.  She was coming back on the 27th.  Poor mom.  She's going to be so lonely without Donna.
Everyone had had their hair cut for Christmas.  They all looked nice.  Jacquie took a photo of me and mom.
Ailene said one of her grandson's was coming to have Christmas dinner with her.  She said usually both of them come.  She said she raised them.
Jacquie said she was going out for Christmas dinner in Coquitlam.
After dinner, I gave mom some vitamin D pills with apple juice.
We looked through her photo book.  She really enjoys it.
Then I put Vaseline on our hands.  Mom didn't like it.  Most of her cuticles are better than mine, but a couple of them need some work.
We went for a walk around the facility.  I found Jacquie in her room.  Peter the cat was there.  He left soon after we arrived.
I got the cards and rounded up the gang.  Michael won twice, mom won once and Shanta won twice.  Poor Anna didn't win at all.    Anna said she was going out for Christmas dinner.  Michael said his sons were going to come and have Christmas dinner with him.  He said he had one 9 months old granddaughter.

Monday 19 December 2016

Choir

Monday, December 19, 2016
Transit was not running on time.  There was an accident near 6th & 6th and the whole area was blocked off.
Mom, Donna and Ailene were all seated for dinner.  Jackie came later.  Beef stroganoff and rice pudding for dessert.  I sat and had tea.  The choir was supposed to be there for 5:00, but everyone was a little late.
I watered mom's poinsettia even though it didn't need to be.  Donna's poinsettia was fine.
Mom's "new" pants were in the closet.
Today mom was wearing a striped shirt and a sweater.  It must be because of the cold weather.
Mom and Donna were sitting in the front row for the performance.  They sang with us during the sing-a-long parts.
I think they enjoyed the concert.
I went to see mom after the concert, but she was in the washroom.  I knocked on the door and she asked me to come in and help her.  She didn't know how to flush the toilet.
She was relieved that I could help.  Poor mom.

Saturday 17 December 2016

Saturday afternoon

Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016
Took me over an hour to get there.  Something is causing delays with the buses.  I'm glad I'm travelling by day today and not night.  There are a lot of people around. Today it was very cold and icy.  I had to wait around in the cold. And I had to carry heavy stuff: mom's clothes, box of cookies and giant cards.
The residents had just enjoyed some live entertainment when I arrived.  Mom and Donna were right in front.  Donna said that some people had gotten up to dance.
They were having refreshments.  I joined them for tea.  Donna passed over to me the remnants of mom's carrot cake.  I ate it. Someone came around later and gave me a piece of sweet bread.
We went back to the room and I went through mom's clothes drawers and the laundry hamper.
Lots of laundry.  Some underpants with poop streaks which I put in the communal hamper.
I remembered to bring my sewing kit and to sew on the button of mom's pink pajamas.
Donna had received some Christmas cards so I helped her open them and read them to her.
I'll have to bring some Christmas cards for mom.
Donna complained about someone using lots of toilet paper and not flushing the toilet.  I hope it's not mom.
Mom complained about being fat.  I told her to eat lots of veggies and cut down on sweets.  She assured me that she didn't eat sweets.
I took mom's measurements. 36-34-40
We went for a little walk.  Mom was concerned that it was time for me to go.
I met one of the activity workers on the way to the bus stop.  She said she had worked there for 5 years.  She said mom could count to 50.  I said we were looking at mom's photo album today and she didn't recognize herself.
I brought a box of cookies for the care staff and the deck of huge cards for Ming.
I did alterations on two pairs of pants.  I brought them in as well as some underwear and a heavier top to be labeled at the nurses' station.

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Tummy ache

Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Brayden was playing dinner music when I arrived.  I accidentally scared mom when I put my hand on her shoulder.  Tonight was ginger pork, rice and broccoli with carrot cake for dessert.  Mom ate most of her meal and then she said she had a pain just below her chest.  She didn't eat the carrot cake and she didn't eat the orange I peeled for her either.
After dinner mom and Donna went to play card bingo with Ming.  I stayed behind to go through mom's things.  There was laundry in her hamper.  I hung up some trousers in her closet.  Mom is rinsing out her underwear so I suspect she is soiling her underpants.
I told the nurse that mom said she had a pain below her chest.
She thought it might be indigestion.
The lady across from mom lost her hearing aid.

Saturday 10 December 2016

Missing cards

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016
Shanta called me over and gave me an orange when I arrived.
A nurse flagged me down.  Mom had told the nurse she was sick.  They had checked mom's blood pressure and she was fine.
Mom was waiting in the doorway of her room.  She seemed fine, but she was wearing her pajama bottoms.  I got her changed back into day clothes.  I asked mom if she had a stomach ache, but she didn't. I wonder if mom got disoriented and thought it was time to go to bed.
I told the nurse that mom did seem to have a lot of gas.  And there were often poo stains on her underwear.  They said they would make a note of this and follow up.
There was some laundry in her hamper.  I watered the poinsettias.
I found half a banana rolled up in a napkin in her drawer and an egg. There was a pair of men's socks which I returned to the nurse's station.  There was one white sock with no partner and a pair of pink socks that used to be white.
I noticed Donna was chatting with Joan, the new room mate.  I wonder if mom is jealous.  The new lady is in an electric wheelchair.  They went off to the television room.
Mom came back shortly after to find me rummaging through her drawers.
I could only find one deck of cards in mom's drawer so I decided to take everything out and tidy.
Mom has been hoarding napkins.  She agreed there were too many and we should throw most of them out.  I gave her some and asked her to put them in the garbage.  She seemed confused about what to do, so I showed her the garbage bin.  Then she was happy to help me.  I still couldn't find the deck of cards.  I asked at the nursing station, but they said nothing had been turned in.
I went to join the gang in the television room and told them we couldn't play cards because one of the decks was missing.  Donna said she would help me find it.  It was in her utility drawer.  At least she remembered that she had taken them and where she had put them.
I put extra chairs around Shanta's table by the fish tank, while Donna went to round up the gang.
Shanta asked about Michael several times.  He came by, but he said he didn't want to play.  Mom won twice, Donna won twice and Anna won the last game.


Tuesday 6 December 2016

New Roommate

Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Mom was playing card bingo when I arrived so I just went to her room.
I watered mom's and Donna's poinsettias.
I found one pair of poo-stained underpants in her top drawer and another pair in her clothes drawer.
One pair didn't have mom's name so I wrote it in with a Sharpie.
I put the pants in the communal laundry.
I tidied up mom's night table.  I found what looked to be mouse poo.  I took it to the nurse's station.  A nurse came to investigate.
Mom and Donna came back from card bingo.  Donna had a bag of chips so she probably won a game.
Mom's new roommate came back ahead of Donna and Mom.  I asked her if she had played bingo today and how she liked it.  She smiled, but she didn't say much.  She was reading a book.
I was really hungry and found a bag of pea chips.  Mom and Donna liked them.  In fact, mom insisted that I give her more.  We looked through mom's photo album together.  Donna said she needed more light.
Mom's hair looked nice today.  She probably had a shower today.

Saturday 3 December 2016

Persimmon

Saturday, December 3, 2016
They were all watching the news in the Fraser room when I arrived.
I took mom with me to her room.  Mom really needs to either wear a bra or lose weight.
The Poinsettias are still lovely.  I'll try to remember to water them Tuesday.
Today mom ate half a persimmon.  She really liked it.  She offered me half of the last piece, but I told her that I had already eaten my share.  She was fine with that.  I'll have to remember to cut the pieces smaller next time.
I think everyone was bored because they were all eager to play cards.
Donna had difficulty getting out of her chair.  She said the floor was slippery.  I guess her arthritis is getting worse.
We played in the fish tank room.
Mom was having difficulty figuring out what to do.  She didn't understand that she was supposed to turn the card that is called over.   She tried to take the card that was called. Michael is the sharpest.  Anna is too busy looking at Shanta's cards. Eventually they all got the hang of it.
Mom won 3 times and Michael won 2 times.
The nurse came to give them their medication while we were playing.
Anna asked if I would take her home with me.
The new lady was slumped over in her wheelchair.  She's 92 according to the flowers on her table.
She's visually impaired and can only hear out of one ear.  She must be lonely.