This blog was formerly dedicated in 2009 to my Dad who died of Alzheimer's in 2013. It's been three years now...and I find myself missing blogging...so I am re-inventing my blog... because, after all, life is about moving through, and going forward...

Monday, September 5, 2011

Dirigibles and Other Concerns...

Dad called Mom last night... she recognized the number and did not pick up.  She asked me to call the nursing home to check who is allowing Dad to call her.  When he calls, it is always at night and he has "Sun downers syndrome" in the late afternoon.  His calls are very upsetting to her because he sounds so mixed up.

She listened to his message:

"Hello?"

"I just wanted to make sure you had seen the third Dirigible crash...."

"Lots of people died... it is so terrible..."


" I saw them ascend to heaven..."

"NO!"

"Why do you almost interrupt me when I am trying to make a phone call?"

The phone disconnected...

Mom told me Dad was 17 when he saw the Hindenburg fly over Connecticut before it crashed in New Jersey.  It really traumatized him.  Every time the Hindenburg's crash is discussed or shown on TV or appears as a question on Jeopardy, Dad re-tells the same story...

I attempted to call, but Dad was waiting to be served lunch in the dining room.  The nurse asked me to call in a half hour... she told me they all know to call me, so it has to be a part time, new employee on the evening shift, who helps Dad call.  She promised she would investigate...

I will try again in a half hour...

I just hate thinking of Dad remembering something so traumatic and not being able to talk with one of his family to calm him down.  Course, most likely he has forgotten all about it...

During Mom and my sister's last visit, Doctor-Doctor assured them not to worry.  She told them both how much Dad is loved there and how they take good care of him.  She told them not to worry... Doctor-Doctor was very concerned with Mom's fall and how long it is taking for her to recuperate.  Assuring Mom, she just needed to do what she had to do to feel better....

Mom used to have a very busy schedule, but now she only goes out twice a week.  Once to Jenny Craig to pic up her food and to get her hair done.  All her volunteering and attending to church has come to a temporary hold.  Her groups will be starting back up this month, and she still does not feel she is up to it.

I am very concerned about her.  I urged her to consider Life Line, where she wears an electronic locket around her neck in case she should fall.  All she would have to do is "click it" and it would signal she needed help and the company would call an ambulance.

Mom has a false sense of security with her grand daughter, my niece, living there. My niece just graduated from LVN school.  This weekend she is gone to the mountains.  During the day she is at work or school, in which case, Mom is alone.  If she should fall during the day, she would lie there until my niece came home.  She told me she would think about it...


My niece plans to marry July of 2012, so I hope Mom does it before then...  If I call and she did not answer the phone, I would call a family member to go check on her...

I was relieved to hear Mom plans on asking her doctor to schedule an x-ray or MRI to get to the bottom of why she is still having pain in her legs and back... She will not consider a cane or walker as she does not trust it to be stable.  She feels more secure leaning on walls, the refrigerator and furniture...

7 comments:

Donna said...

My brother in law's wife has the sun downer problem and is still at home with him. He tries to be patient but sometimes the things she says and does really upsets him. I know it is really hard for him to go through.

Glad to hear that your Mom is going to have an x-ray and hopefully get to the bottom of her pain. Hope it all goes well.

betty said...

Your poor mom, Donna, (and your poor dad too). Definitely encourage your mom to get that LifeLine. I have typed many a report of people falling and not found for hours and then have lots of problems because of it (dehydration, fractures, etc). Stress to her, if she will listen, and I think you have probably already, how important it is for your peace of mind to know she is safe like that with the LifeLine.

I do hope the doctors can find out what is causing her pain; wasn't it late spring when she fell? I would think she should be making some type of improvement by now

betty

Mari said...

I hope your Mom considers the lifeline alert too. It would make everyone have a better sense of security about her.

Pat said...

This has happened one too many times that your Dad or someone else has called your mother when they are supposed to notify you. How many times do they have to be told that? I don't care if someone is new, or someone is sick and another person is filling in. This is written in your father's chart, right? Can't there be a sign hanging on the wall in his room or something, too?

Your mom DEFINITELY should have more tests run to see why she's still in pain so she can get to the bottom of it. Your mom would surely benefit from one of those bracelets.

Hang in there!

gayle said...

I really hope your mom gets the Life Line! Hopefully she will feel better soon! She was so active before so I'm sure it's bothering her.

Linda O'Connell said...

I know what a concern these things are for you. It is a tough time for everyone. Isn't it? Ah, the sandwich generation. Lifeline is exactly what she needs.

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Donna. I tend to agree with other comments, this seems to have happened quite a lot, whereby your mum is called, and not you! Honestly, it's quite simple really, isn't it. Telephone calls like that must be pretty upsetting for your mum. It is a little worrying that your mum is taking so long to heal after her fall and such a shame that her life is now being restricted in this way. I pray that she will soon be back to her old self. You've got enough to worry about with your dad really, and now have this worry about your mum. My dear mum had one of those Piper Lifelines they are called over here. Trouble is, she used to phone me from upstairs in her home, and I would say, have you got your alarm on mum? And she would say, oh, I've left it downstairs on the sideboard. Not really much help if she had a fall down the stairs was it?! But generally, they were a Godsend and I do urge your mum to get one.