It just keeps getting better. Mother has fallen at least twice in the facility. It’s in the evenings when she starts to get really agitated. She does not follow instructions to sit in her chair and wait for Assistance. The problem is that she is too mobile and has strength yet she has very poor balance. PT has not had time to work with her due to the holiday weekend. She also has oxygen but takes it off when she gets agitated. The nurse wondered if getting her a walker might help but again she’s got the oxygen set up. She has IV infusions which are these little medication bulbs and they have to sit in her lap while she gets the infusion. They cannot dangle because they could pull out the IV with the weight of them. I have purchased a couple of tops with pockets in them so I hope that fixes that situation.
A couple of nights ago, she wandered into an adjacent hall without a walker or anything and locked herself in a bathroom. The staff is very worried about her getting out the door. She remains agitated and fixated on going across the street to go get cigarettes. She found out there is another resident with cigarettes and was apparently hatching a plot to go with that resident who is able to walk off the non-smoking property, to smoke. I bought her nicotine patches, but she refuses them. The nurse informed that resident she was not allowed to do that. They’re starting to tell me she either needs a sitter or a locked facility. When she discharged from the hospital, she was not as mobile as she is now. The pain in her back has greatly decreased I guess as the infection retreats.
she has about $24,000 to her name. I realize she will need a Medicaid been down. I could get a sitter for a while. But I hesitate to do so until I know for sure she’s going to qualify for nursing home Medicaid. The psych NP wants to test cognitive stuff in a little more time after her medical issues have improved. The psych and pee upon looking at her, think she is mid stage dementia.
I hesitate to start spending her money on a sitter until I know more about what the future holds. And also, a sitter is just a temporary solution. If this facility can’t have her then she’s still going to end up somewhere else. I imagine right now her having a PIC line complicates placement. But as this week gets going and the holiday is over, I have a feeling they will be pressuring me to do something different.oh another fun illusion she has. She tells the staff I’m going to kill her dog. We were willing to bring dog for a visit, but he has a fungal infection and with her IV line that’s a bad idea. We will try to arrange for a video chat with the dog.
Smokers and alcoholics will always want to elope due to the addiction.
I was reviewing the admissions paperwork because it needs to be turned in tomorrow. I found in several places the facility had pre-filled my name in as “responsible party. “. I will not be doing that. I’m going to speak to our elder attorney first for instructions on how to firmly make sure I am only as her agent on those papers. I know I can sign her name by my name as agent. But I think there’s some other note I can make on each page something about saying I take no personal financial responsibility. I want to find out the correct way to do that. I will not put myself at risk.
I think preliminary preparing for placement in SNF should begin .
Another thought , just in case , ask the doc if any of her current meds could be contributing to her current mental status .
Thinking of you and hoping that this upcoming week brings some clarity to the situation and relief for you. 😊