Dad was weak from dehydration, chemo, maybe hunger. Still weak but sounds better. Hired help.

Wednesday on 8/13, when I had previously seen Dad, he seemed to be doing OK and taking some care of self in regards to liquids and eating.

On Monday, 8/18, Dad seemed very weak before we went to his chemo doctor's appointment.
Dad, if I read the scale right and remember right, lost over 5 pounds in one week.  He no longer has extra weight to lose.  Dad mentioned that he needs to eat more than the one meal a day he had been getting. The nurse also confirmed my suspicions that he was dehydrated.  They gave him some fluids intravenously.

His tongue was dry and sore (likely in part due to dehydration). That made drinking and eating all the more difficult.  Doctor gave him some medicine to numb his mouth to make eating and drinking easier. It seemed to help, but Dad barely had the strength and motivation to eat just a little bit. I am hoping that what he did eat, the fluid shots, and nutrition drinks, will revive him. I am also hoping that the home care will also help once set up.   His visiting nurse will be sure to check and discuss nutrition and drinking fluids with Dad when she visits tomorrow, 8/21.

The meeting with Affordable HomeCare went well. Dad decided to sign up, and Mom did not protest. The first session is Monday, 8/25/2014.
Affordable HomeCare is willing to help with transportation, grocery shopping, and much more. The limiting factor is more likely to be my parents than their willingness.  The main limitation is anything remotely medical is not allowed.  They will start out with a plan for primarily transportation related days / activities.  I have hopes that my parents will get more comfortable with other items such as pill reminders, dish washing, laundry, whatever my parents will accept.

Dad yesterday was talking positively of the service.   Mom seemed OK with it until Dad suggested, among other things, that they could do grocery shopping for them.  She was very upset with that idea.  Cousin Sean tried to convince her that they will not do anything she does not want.  They will treat her like a rock star.  During the introduction meeting we had mentioned them going shopping with her, and taking over when she gets tired. That was fine. But she does not want to stop going to the grocery store.  That is her time away from the house.  Thankfully, the HomeCare team seem to understand the desires of people to do as much as they can, and only be there to help as requested.

Dad is having trouble getting up from seats. Including toilet seats.
Monday night, 8/18, after waiting for 3 hours of Dad trying to get himself up, Mom finally called the fire department to help.
We are awaiting a toilet seat booster on back-order from a catalog, currently estimated for end of the month. Cousin Sean said he might be able to get one from a relative who no longer needs it.
Yesterday he was able to get up out of seats three or four times with great effort.  However, the 5th time he needed Cousin Sean's help.

Mom's surgery for her nose skin cancer went well yesterday, 8/19.
She has a big bandage on her nose.  She feels kind of awkward about it.  She is self-conscious and is not crazy about going outside with it, since she looks funny in her opinion.  She should keep it on for 48 hours.