The progress continues

I was impressed when I got here Sunday and saw Mom sitting up in her wheelchair, dressed and looking pretty good. She tried to prove how well she was doing by getting out of her wheelchair and attempting to walk. Didn't do as well as she thought she could and finally got the aide to help her to the restroom. And so it goes.

The gathering with the Kuxhaus clan in the family dining room at Heartland was nice (thanks, Maggie, for pulling it together). She enjoyed the food, conversation, and change of scenery and was able to get out of her wheelchair into a dining chair. When it was time for the evening to end, Colleen helped a very tired Ruth back into the wheelchair and off to bed she went.

I sat with her during her PT Monday afternoon and enjoyed watching her go through her paces. While we were in the gym, her PT Ancy told her that she is not going to be able to live alone. I don't think she heard that because she continues to talk about going back to Meadowlark.

Monday's care conference, which I attended in person and Val via phone, included her social worker, PT, OT, nurse, and dietitian (it takes a village). Concerns were raised about her not eating enough, and that they were supplementing her meals with Ensure (of which she just takes sips). She can't take her pain meds without eating something, and on Monday the doctor explained this to Mom. She tends to listen to men in white coats. Other than that, it seems they have her pain controlled enough that she can do PT. They reported that she is highly motivated and making remarkable progress, and adamant about returning home. But they reinforced what Ancy said earlier, that she will not be able to live alone. Mom has told her team that her friends could help her, but this isn't realistic.

We're also concerned about her emotional health. Last winter she wasn't able to get out and was isolated. Despite talking with her friends regularly and visits from us, she became very depressed. With her mobility even more compromised now, this would likely be a greater problem if she were home. One of the good things about her being at Heartland is the interaction she has with others. She's especially fortunate to have another good roommate.

As long as she continues to make progress, she'll be at Heartland, for which we are grateful as it is a good environment for her (plus it's covered by Medicare!). Mindy, the social worker, said that it's understandable she would want to go home; after all, she's lived there 60 some years, and it is her wish to finish her days there. Mindy added that it might take her going home and experiencing first hand how difficult it is before she would accept moving into an extended care facility. However, having someone live in with her might be a possible solution. It's an idea we will need to explore.