I requested the visiting home nurse service to switch to hospice. Dad was very minimally responsive today, and really needed more help than I could give. In particular his pain and discomfort did not allow me to get any of his pills in him today. He also was not strong enough to stand, so I could not get him out of bed at all.
Dad consistently very tired.
Dad did not get up today until around 4:30PM.
He always was a night owl, but this is ridiculous. It may be that he had gotten up earlier and went back to bed to rest. However, he had not yet taken his "morning" / wake-up time pills.
He seems to be in a lot of pain, which is likely part of the reason for resting so much. Resting so much means he does not get some of his pills spaced out as much, which is possibly a reason for some of his pain. Alas.
He seems to be getting enough liquids and food, but it is hard to tell. He for sure is not getting more than enough. He lost a lot of weight and could stand to add some of it back.
He seems to be getting discouraged, and sometimes wishes God would take him to heaven quickly and simply, such as via a heart attack. However, as he said, as a Christian he does not get to make that choice, but instead has to wait for God's plan.
Mom seems to be getting more easily distracted. While she had a visitor, she got a phone call. She answered the phone, found out who it was, and then hung up on them without clearly saying that Dad was resting and that she had to go because of a visitor. I wonder if her memory is getting slightly worse, or more confusion and unusual events around her are causing more challenges.
They both seemed to have a nice visit with Cousin Sean today, although Sean was greatly worried about them.
He always was a night owl, but this is ridiculous. It may be that he had gotten up earlier and went back to bed to rest. However, he had not yet taken his "morning" / wake-up time pills.
He seems to be in a lot of pain, which is likely part of the reason for resting so much. Resting so much means he does not get some of his pills spaced out as much, which is possibly a reason for some of his pain. Alas.
He seems to be getting enough liquids and food, but it is hard to tell. He for sure is not getting more than enough. He lost a lot of weight and could stand to add some of it back.
He seems to be getting discouraged, and sometimes wishes God would take him to heaven quickly and simply, such as via a heart attack. However, as he said, as a Christian he does not get to make that choice, but instead has to wait for God's plan.
Mom seems to be getting more easily distracted. While she had a visitor, she got a phone call. She answered the phone, found out who it was, and then hung up on them without clearly saying that Dad was resting and that she had to go because of a visitor. I wonder if her memory is getting slightly worse, or more confusion and unusual events around her are causing more challenges.
They both seemed to have a nice visit with Cousin Sean today, although Sean was greatly worried about them.
Dad and Mom continuing OK
Dad was OK today, but in quite a bit of pain. He took some of the stronger pain medicine in the late afternoon.
Dad is getting slightly weaker day by day.
He was not feeling up to getting up to get his own dinner tonight. So I got him his request, a can of mixed fruit. I am guessing he will start relying on Mom to feed him now. They both reject the idea of meals on wheels, because they do not like the meals (portion and content). I am considering seeing if they would accept food delivery restaurants, like pizza and Jimmy John's subs. Growing up they were always strongly avoided due to unneeded cost and due to discomfort of knowing how to tip.
Mom is sometimes sad, crying at times, but making it through as if all was normal at other times, and bickering or upset at Dad at other times. I guess a healthy mix.
Mom said she would be uncomfortable to drive, due to her legs being shaky. So while she wants (/ demands) the permission to drive, she seems to self-recognize that she does not have the ability.
She also today said that she hoped I was not expecting her to move after Dad dies. At least not for a while. So she is still attached to the house, as I suspected she would be.
Dad is getting slightly weaker day by day.
He was not feeling up to getting up to get his own dinner tonight. So I got him his request, a can of mixed fruit. I am guessing he will start relying on Mom to feed him now. They both reject the idea of meals on wheels, because they do not like the meals (portion and content). I am considering seeing if they would accept food delivery restaurants, like pizza and Jimmy John's subs. Growing up they were always strongly avoided due to unneeded cost and due to discomfort of knowing how to tip.
Mom is sometimes sad, crying at times, but making it through as if all was normal at other times, and bickering or upset at Dad at other times. I guess a healthy mix.
Mom said she would be uncomfortable to drive, due to her legs being shaky. So while she wants (/ demands) the permission to drive, she seems to self-recognize that she does not have the ability.
She also today said that she hoped I was not expecting her to move after Dad dies. At least not for a while. So she is still attached to the house, as I suspected she would be.
Dad in pain, and somewhat depressed.
Dad did not take any pain medicine over the last week, in part out of a desire to avoid narcotics in an attempt to get in a condition to drive. However the pain is difficult for him. I feel it is depressing him as well. Hopefully the doctor visit on Monday, 10/13, will encourage him to take some pain medicine again.
Dad coming home today, 10/2/2014.
Dad's progress in the nursing home continued well.
So he is cleared to come home today, 10/2/2014, Thursday.
He and Mom are both very happy about that.
He has been assigned to use a rolling walker to help walk.
In general, he seems to be the healthiest he has been in quite a while.
Of course, I understand that long term outlook is different, but for the near term, I have good hopes.
I pray that Mom and Dad can get used to living together again. I also ask that being in the same house will help reduce their bickering, since their worries can be lessened since they are together.
So he is cleared to come home today, 10/2/2014, Thursday.
He and Mom are both very happy about that.
He has been assigned to use a rolling walker to help walk.
In general, he seems to be the healthiest he has been in quite a while.
Of course, I understand that long term outlook is different, but for the near term, I have good hopes.
I pray that Mom and Dad can get used to living together again. I also ask that being in the same house will help reduce their bickering, since their worries can be lessened since they are together.
Dad ready for second cataract surgery.
Good news of day: Dad is cleared for cataract surgery for his second eye. The first eye surgery went well. Dad's eyesight is getting to be a real nuisance for him, so this is good news.
It has been a big positive that Affordable Home Care has been driving Mom to visit Dad. That has made things much easier on me.
It has been a big positive that Affordable Home Care has been driving Mom to visit Dad. That has made things much easier on me.
Dad finished with chemotherapy. Estimated 3 weeks till comes home, and 6 months till leaves for eternal home.
The nursing home stay is going well for Dad.
The nursing home rehab is estimating that Dad will be able to come home in October. He has already greatly improved.
Dad decided he cannot take chemotherapy anymore.
The doctor is estimating that Dad has less than 7 months to live, perhaps 6, perhaps less.
Mom, Dad and I all seem to be taking it well, in large part because we have been halfway expecting this for a while.
The nursing home rehab is estimating that Dad will be able to come home in October. He has already greatly improved.
Dad decided he cannot take chemotherapy anymore.
The doctor is estimating that Dad has less than 7 months to live, perhaps 6, perhaps less.
Mom, Dad and I all seem to be taking it well, in large part because we have been halfway expecting this for a while.
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