Mom has been in assisted living for 5 days and I question myself about making this decision for this level of care – thinking maybe she was more impaired and this level of care would not be able to accommodate her. She was unable to use the new remote (but those can be a challenge for those of us with PhD’s). She could not tell the difference from her phone or the remote and she seemed to forget she had a rather significant stroke. She used the sink drain as a filter in the coffee pot.
However, she had a new phone by the sofa that was different than the one she had at her house and yesterday my brother changed it out to the old phone that she recognized. So, low and behold, I get a call on my way to her apartment from her thanking me for the new table my husband had put in her little apartment. That brought tears to my eyes because she had to look for my cell phone number and then dial me…and she did it!
She generated much of the conversation during our visit and told me again about going to a medical appointment with her care manager yesterday but the doctor never talked with her , only with the care manager. Of course I told her if that happens again to remind him that “you are the patient”.
She told me that my husband had left about 20 minutes ago and when I checked with him, she was spot on! She told me what she did all day and was aware she had a therapy session and that she had a doctor’s appointment to check her Coumadin tomorrow. She didn’t say Coumadin but the good news is that she knew she had an appointment. She even knew remembered that her sister-in-law might come for a visit.
Mom commented on how nice the apartment was and about all the people (she is very social). She asked me rightly how much the rent was and if I could write checks on her account. She asked if she had enough money in that account to pay the bills. This is all very rational, logical and very good news to me.
However, on my return home, my husband, who talked with the speech therapist, said she has no memory of being in the hospital – it was 13 days!
There is hope…but I can’t get too far ahead of myself. She had a major stroke and even though she is adjusting to her surroundings she is almost 89 and truly does need a supportive environment – it could be why she is doing so well!
However, the tears of yesterday became the smiles of hope today.
PS…the new doctor eliminated about 4 medications yesterday – is this why she seemed to be more rational today?