Saturday 30 November 2019

Picking up mom's stuff

Friday, November 29, 2019
I took the day off.  I wrote an e-mail to Japan.  I wrote e-mails to friends.  I talked to someone at the funeral home regarding details of the cremation.  Chris came over around 9:40 and we picked out an urn for mom and a backup.  Chris treated me to breakfast.  We went to St. Michael's to clean out mom's room.  The adaptive clothing, St. Michael's was happy to take.  I left other stuff on the counter as well.  We had 2 large garbage bags and two smaller bags of stuff.
I gave the Chinese lady mom's pink giraffe. We cried together.   I left mom's lap blanket for Jackie.  A lot of the staff gave me a hug and I thanked them for looking after mom.
I went to Finance to check and see if there was anything I had to do.
I saw Ming and I gave him and hug and thanked him and burst into tears.  Embarrassing.  Chris put his arm around me.  Chris dropped me off.
Ethel came over with cookies.  She read over the contract from the funeral home.  Everything looked in order.  I signed it electronically and sent it off.  I mentioned the part in the contract about not receiving the ashes and Certificate of Death for 10-14 days.  It seemed long.  I thought the Gotos had their funeral about a week later.  Ethel said she didn't remember an urn so I thought maybe a photo would be sufficient.
Ethel talked about how she thought an MC was a good idea.  Choices for MC: Frank Seki, Steve Kamachi, Colleen Goto? Ethel volunteered to be a greeter and collect envelopes.  I thought Steve would be a good person to make a speech about mom. Charlene could do a speech about mom's history with Sumi and Aunti Reiko.  Sumi could sing a song.  Ethel thought maybe Carol could pick up sushi.
Charlene came over after dinner.  She suggested places to hold the Celebration of Life.  She strongly preferred the Queensborough Community Centre.  I felt it would take more work to organize something there.  We would need audio-visual equipment for karaoke, speeches and a slide show.
The other place we considered was Kearny.  Charlene helped me to sort through the bags of mom's belongings.  She took some away to go to thrift stores and for a toy drive. 

Mom passed away

Thursday, November 28, 2019
I got a phone call from St. Michael's in the morning.  The nurse said that mom's condition was declining and that I should call the doctor.  Then, she said that she would ask the doctor to call me.  I went about my day at work.  While I was in Tai Chi, the doctor called to say that mom appeared to be going into death mode.  However, she had done this before.  In fact, he said mom had had two teaspoons of apple sauce earlier.  He assured me that she was not in pain and was not suffering.
After Tai Chi, Charlene took me to St. Michael's to visit mom. Chris was already there.  Mom was wide awake.  She looked at us unblinking.  Her feet were cold so I massaged them.  The physiotherapist had been there and had adjusted mom's legs.  After Chris left, Charlene and I stayed a little longer.  Usually, mom falls asleep, but today she stayed awake.  Charlene mentioned that mom's breath became odd, but that it became steady again.  We said good-bye to mom.  I told her I would be back tomorrow and we left.
At around 8:30 p.m. Charlene got a call from Chris.  I had turned my phone off because the battery was low and my phone was beeping.  Chris was frantic because he had gotten a call from St. Michael's that mom had passed away and he couldn't get in touch with me.
Charlene took me to St. Michael's and we said good-bye to mom's dead body.  She still felt warm.  Her eyes were open and they looked so small.  Her mouth was open and I could see her tongue inside.  It wasn't a good memory to have. 
The nurse gave me a list of funeral homes and told me to St. Michael's.  I went home and called the funeral home that I had selected previously.  It was on the list.  I called St. Michael's to make sure the funeral home had called.
Charlene was with me.  She called her mom.  Her mom said to call Ethel.  Ethel called the relatives and Sumi called friends. I started writing a list of people I had to notify.

Wednesday 27 November 2019

Mom doesn't drink anything

Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Mom is lying in bed at a strange angle.  She seems to be sleeping more peacefully.  Her mouth is more relaxed than yesterday.  She doesn't take any apple juice or Boost.  It dribbles down from the side of her mouth.  I have to wipe it up quickly.  She tries to wipe it herself.  Sometimes she opens her eyes and looks at me.  She can lift her arm and scratch her head.  She is so thin.
Chris came to visit today.  He had to wear a mask because he has a cold.

Tuesday 26 November 2019

Mom is breathing laboriously

Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Mom was lying in bed.  She was breathing with her mouth open.  The wrinkles in her forehead were gone, but her eyes were weird so I could tell that she was drugged.  At some point, she seemed wide awake so I gave her a teaspoon of apple juice.  I didn't see her swallow it.  She opened and closed her mouth.  Her body was still warm.  Her legs were cool, but not cold.  Eventually, she seemed to be sleeping.  There was an odour.
The aide said that she would be given a sponge bath later tonight.
The nurse said that mom had blood from her bowel and a piece of poo had been dislodged.  She had been given an enema.
I cried.  But maybe mom will look better tomorrow.

Monday 25 November 2019

Mom is in her wheelchair

Monday, November 25th, 2019
Mom was sitting at the dining table when I arrived.  Donna, Edward and Jackie were there. 
Mom was mostly dozing.  I was able to put food in her mouth, but it would trickle out.  Heartbreaking.  Mom's mouth went slack and I was worried that she had had a stroke.  I think she is just heavily medicated.  Sometimes she opens her eyes wide.  She has wrinkles in her forehead.
Sometimes she seems to wake up and looks like she wants to scream.  She moves her arms and her body, writhing and then falls back.  Disturbing.  Poor mom.  I feel as if the end is near.

Sunday 24 November 2019

No Shanta

Sunday, November 24, 2019
Shanta passed away on Friday.
Donna was at the dinner table with Edward.  Jackie arrived late.  Mom was in bed.
Zorka was attached to her oxygen machine and none too happy.
She tried to escape, but was brought back.
Mom ate and drank about a quarter cup.
I know someone is trying to feed her because I have to pick off food that is in the hollows of her neck. 
An aide said that mom scratched her so I put mom's white gloves on her before I left.
Zorka was confused so I opened her closet and showed her her clothing and pointed out the photographs of her husband.  Zorka's closet is so neat compared to mom's.


Saturday 23 November 2019

Mom ate less than usual

Saturday, November 23, 2019
Mom was in bed and so were Donna and Zorka.  Donna and Zorka were both on breathing machines.  Donna was throwing up her food.  She didn't look good.  She was pale.
Mom was angry and feisty. 
She drank some Boost, ate some pureed food, drank some apple juice etc.  I would say she consumed about 1/2 a cup of food and drink.  I gave her a tiny piece of banana.
She had the thigh cushion strapped on correctly for a change.
Both her legs were warm.
I put the headset on her.
At one point she grabbed one of the earbud cords and wouldn't give it up.

Wednesday 20 November 2019

Comfort care

Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Mom was in bed again.  Jackie told me to ask the nurse why mom was in bed.  The nurse said that mom is now in comfort care.  I guess it is like death protocol.  But, Jackie said that I could ask for mom to be put in her wheelchair.  I'm supposed to talk to the nurse tomorrow.
Zorka looked pretty bad today.  One of the aides came and helped her eat.  Zorka was so weak, she couldn't even hold the cup to her mouth.  I helped her with a few sips of milk and apple juice.
Mom was watching.  I think they both look at each other and think the other is dying.
Mom was really thirsty.  She even grabbed the cup and tried to feed herself.  Her movements are jerky.  Poor mom.  She drank most of her Boost and apple juice.  She ate a little of the pureed peas.  She ate a Cheetos.  I massaged her legs.
I asked about mom's bowel movement.  Diane said she had a small bowel movement last night.
I put the headset on mom and she seemed to enjoy it.

Tuesday 19 November 2019

Diane

Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Mom was in bed.  She wasn't propped up or turned on her side.  I will have to ask about that since one of the aides said it would be good to get a body pillow. 
Mom was wearing her thigh brace. 
She was thirsty and hungry but had trouble drinking.  She had about half her Boost, half her apple juice and some products that would induce a bowel movement.  She had been given a suppository, but there might be some kind of blockage further up.
She had about a half a teaspoon of pureed carrot. 
Poor mom.  I moved her legs and massaged them.
I filed her nails.  She was okay with that.
An aide asked if she could be of assistance.  Maybe I should have asked her to change mom's diaper.

Monday 18 November 2019

Mom is calmer

Monday, November 18, 2019
Mom was in bed.  She opened her eyes when I arrived.  I was able to feed her more or less.  She drank her beverages and ate very little of her pureed food.  She said "gomen." 
Zorka's daughter came to visit.  Zorka was in bed.  I wonder if Zorka thinks she is going to die because she is beside mom.
Mom wasn't interested in bubble wrap today, but she did try to eat her earbud.
I gave mom the tamagoboro with a milk chaser.  She liked that.
I cleaned out some things from mom's closet.
An aide put the clothes in the lost and found.
I cut mom's nails.  I showed Zorka's daughter where to get the nail clippers.



Sunday 17 November 2019

Mom is violent

Sunday, November 17, 2019
Mom was in bed still.  She drank her Boost.  She said "nice."  She must have been thirsty.  She ate some of her pureed veggies and some of her pudding.  She drank most of her second Boost and fortified Boost.
I adjusted her leg brace.
I put the headset on her.
I had to keep adjusting her bib because she kept pulling it off.
Mom became violent.  I don't know if I did something wrong.
I gave her some bubble wrap and then she started tearing it and trying to put her arm through.  I thought she was cold so I tried to put her sweater on, but she fought me.
When I tried to give her more Boost she made as if to shove me.  When I put the cup near her, she grabbed it spilling some.
She said that she was sorry.  I wonder if she couldn't control herself.
Poor mom.

Suppository

Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019
Mom was still in bed.  Her food had not been served.  I went to investigate.  By the time I had returned, an aide was feeding her.  Mom was hungry, but she didn't open her mouth wide.  I gave her apple juice first to quench her thirst, then followed with pureed food and soup.  She ate most of her pureed peach.  When I fed mom, I was coming into contact with her teeth. There was no Boost.
After lunch, I got mom to toss her hedgehog back and forth with me.  She laughed.  I wish I could have taped it.  She was so cute. 
An aide and a nurse came by to change mom's diaper and wound.  I helped secure mom's arms.  Mom has a very strong grip.  She was in pain.  I fear she is in constant pain.
Her diaper was soaked through and her pink anti-strip jumpsuit was also soiled.  They had given her a suppository.  The nurse said that mom needed to eat more protein.  Poor mom.  They put her into her blue anti-strip jumpsuit.
I put a sweater on mom.  It was difficult.  She tried to bite me. 
For afternoon tea, I gave mom some prune juice.  She drank some apple juice as well.  She ate some minced ham sandwich, but she had trouble with the bread.  I should probably just scrape off the ham and spoon feed her.  She was biting into the sandwich.  Eventually, she fell asleep.

Wednesday 13 November 2019

Still in bed

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Mom is still in bed.  She seemed to be in good spirits.  She was alert and calm.  She drank and ate, but very slowly.  She was not listing to one side.  I think she might be getting better care.
Chris remarked that mom looked better than last week.
She doesn't want to hold the cup.
I massaged her legs.  Her left foot felt very cold.
She was wearing her anti-strip suit.
This week while mom was in bed and not in the dining room, residents and staff expressed concern: Andrew, the Chinese lady, Ming, etc.

Tuesday 12 November 2019

Still in bed, rookie nurses attending to mom's wound

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Mom was in bed when I arrived shortly after 11 am.  I took the day off work.  The nurse trainees had just given my mom a sedative.  They said they would be back in 20 minutes.  I quickly went to work to get mom to drink her beverages.  They were probably left over from the morning  She drank most of her Boost and her apple juice.  She told me that the apple juice was "nice." I was happy to see that she was wearing her blue onesie.  Come to think of it, I haven't seen her cranberry onesie.  I cleaned her up because she had dried up Boost in the hollows of her neck.
A trainee came back and said that they would see to my mom's bum sore after the break.  I was concerned that the sedative would wear off, but the aide said it would last for 4 hours.
I went to heat up my lunch.  When I got back, I was told that they were working on the sore on my mom's bum and they would finish in half an hour.  Larry told me that he had collected mom's lunch and left it in the room.
When I came back half an hour later, they were still not finished.  I was concerned.  Another ten minutes later, someone told me that they were done.  Mom looked uncomfortable and was puffing air.
Mom slept for half an hour and was snoring.
Zorka's son came to see her.  I suspect it was because she wouldn't get out of bed.  I suspect she has Alzheimer's.  She always asks about mom and if she will get better.  Maybe mom and Zorka shouldn't be in the same room.
I managed to get some lunch into mom.  Mostly she was cooperative, but had trouble holding the cup.


Monday 11 November 2019

Mom is still in bed

Monday, November 11, 2019
Mom was in bed again.  She was alert and calm.  She drank most of her Boost and fortified Boost.  She ate some of her dinner (pureed broccoli) and some of her vanilla pudding.  She drank some milk and some apple juice.  She hardly opened her mouth.  I showed her by opening my mouth wide and she laughed.  She did copy me a couple of times, but went back to little fish mouth.
At some points, she held the drinking cup.  I was pleased to see that she was wearing her red anti-strip suit.  It was cute. 
I massaged her feet and calves.  They were cold.
I put the earbud in her ear and let her listen to some Japanese music.
Donna was left in her wheelchair and she was getting kind of antsy.  I put a quilt over her legs and helped her with a sweater.  I just got her arms through because she couldn't bend forward so that I could pull the sweater down her back.


Ethel visited and left a card

Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019
Mom was in bed when I arrived.  She was alert and engaged.  She was thirsty.  I gave her apple juice that was probably there from the afternoon. There was leftover cheese and a banana from last night; and leftover sandwiches from the afternoon.  I should have the extra food cancelled.
Mom complained that her right leg hurt.  I saw that the leg brace had been put on so I took it off.  She was visibly relieved.  I was surprised by how much she was able to communicate verbally.
I noticed a card from Ethel on mom's nightstand.  I guess she must have visited earlier in the day.
Mom was leaning way over to the left so it was difficult to prop her up even with the head of the bed lifted.  I tried to push her over to the right.  Sometimes I was successful, other times not so much and of course, she started drifted to the left. 
Mom ate dinner, dessert, and a small piece of banana.  She is having difficulty with solid food.  I gave her a small piece of banana and some cheddar cheese. I put the food in her left hand and she used her right hand to pick up the pieces and put them in her mouth. I gave her beverages to help her break down the food.  At some points, she was able to hold her cup and drink by herself.
I put the earbuds in and let her listen to music.  I have to remember to get the earbuds from work.
She tried to put her hands down her pants and I distracted her.  It took several attempts, but she stopped.  I let her hold the Christmas hedgehog.  She looked so cute.  She fell asleep.
The Boost that was spilled yesterday, was not well-cleaned so it was still sticky there.
Donna and Edward were at the dinner table today.


Saturday 9 November 2019

Mom is in bed

Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019
Mom was in bed again today.  Charlene saw her yesterday and said she was at the dinner table.  She was dopey, but did eat and drink.
Mom was not wearing her anti-strip jumpsuit.  She was in bed, but mostly alert.  She drank all of her Boost.  She ate very little of her dinner and most of her pureed peach.  She drank some milk and some apple juice.  I gave her a few of my peas, but she wasn't chewing well.
She was in bed and listing to one side.  The aide helped me pull her up by pulling the sheet up.
The floor was sticky with maybe Boost.  Her shirt had some crusted Boost.  She even had dried up stuff in the hollows of her neck.  Poor mom.
Mom seemed pretty mellow.  She was alert and even held the cup and took a sip or two.  Mostly I had to hold the cup for her.
I put the one earbud in her ear so she could listen to music and she seemed content.

Wednesday 6 November 2019

Death protocol

Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Mom was in bed again.  Everyone tells me that mom doesn't eat now.  Just yesterday, they said mom drank her Boost.  Now the nurse tells me that mom has death protocol written in her file.  She is getting pain medication every hour as required.
I got a bill today for $590 for the physiotherapist.  It cost $65 for half an hour, not $45 like I thought.  Poor mom.  I bought a thigh separator for just under $100.  I bought the special nightgowns, the anti-strip jumpsuits, etc. 
Mom drank most of her fortified Boost, her Boost some milk and apple juice.  She ate a Cheeto and some rice pudding.
Donna was in bed too.

Tuesday 5 November 2019

Mom is in bed

Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Mom is in bed.  Not because she is sick, but because they don't want to put her in the wheelchair again.  She had a visit from the physiotherapist.  The new thigh separator is between her legs.
Mom's left arm wasn't even in her sleeve.  I put it in her sleeve.
She was kind of dopey, but I was able to feed her some food.  She ate most of her apple sauce and a small piece of banana.  She drank most of the fortified Boost which I think is medication.
She was rather dopey.
Apparently, Dr. Nathoo came yesterday and maybe saw mom.
Mom has 4 anti-strip jumpsuits and I have only seen her wearing the blue outfit once.
Mom has a bad sore on her bum.
Poor mom.
Donna kept asking me to take her home with me.  Poor Donna.

Monday 4 November 2019

Mom's wearing the same clothes

Monday, November 4, 2019
I arrived a little late today.  Mom had consumed most of her Boost.  I was able to feed her very little.  I moved her to the fish tank room at 5:30.
I ate my dinner and shared some of it with mom.  I gave her a piece of chicken skin and a section of bean.  Later, I extracted the fibrous bits of the bean. 
She drank some prune juice and coughed.
I noticed mom's shirt sleeve had some Boost that had hardened and there was some on her socks as well so I changed her socks and her top.  Also, mom did not have the pillow between her legs.
Her left leg felt cold.
Mom was wearing the same clothes as yesterday and maybe since Friday.

Sunday 3 November 2019

Mom's birthday lunch

Sunday, November 3, 2019
Mom was sitting at the table with Edward and Donna.  Edward really enjoyed his pancakes and bacon.  Donna is having trouble feeding herself. 
Mom ate okay.  She was engaged and in a good mood.    She had a pillow between her legs.  I really should pay attention to her clothes.
I saw her two red jumpsuits hanging in the closet.  They look garish.  I can't send them back because they are already labeled.  Poor mom.  I wonder if I should shorten the legs.
I ordered Chinese food from On On.  It was really good.  It wasn't too salty.
Auntie Sumi enjoyed the green beans.  We all enjoyed the food.
I also bought a Tiramisu cake which was okay.
We had a nice visit.
Yuki came as we were cleaning up so we offered her a piece of cake.
I left the rest of the cake in the staff room.

Saturday 2 November 2019

Mom is grabby

Saturday, November 2nd, 2019
Mom was sitting at the dining table with Donna when I arrived.  Mom was engaged and talking and smiling.  She drank her Boost when I put the cup to her lips.  She grabbed onto her cutlery and was about to eat the napkin wrapped around.  I tried to restrain her.  Eventually, I was able to trade her for the Cheeto.  When her dinner arrived, she dipped her Cheeto in her pureed food.  It was messy.  I fed her with a spoon, but she did attempt to eat with her fingers again.  She ate very little.
I took her to the fish tank room and she continued to eat.  She ate about a cup of ice cream and 1/3 of a banana.  She ate more of her pureed food and her apple juice.
When I tried to wipe her hands, she tried to grab me.  She has good reflexes and her grip is strong.