Next steps

Mom was delightfully surprised by a visit from Tim, Lori, Travis and Trevor Tuma on Saturday around lunch time. She walked with them from her room to the day room, where they enjoyed a nice visit. It's always good to see Tim and his family, and Saturday was no exception. Later that afternoon Margie, Mom's roommate until last Wednesday, came by with her sister and brother-in-law to visit and deliver several boxes of Girl Scout cookies.So if you stop by to see Mom, she can now properly entertain and offer cookies.

Last Wednesday Byron took Mom to her appointment with Dr. Hale, the infectious disease doctor. Mom continues to receive intravenous vancomycin for MRSA, and seems to be responding well to it. She'll see Dr. Hale again this Wednesday. She has an appointment at the wound clinic on Tuesday, and I'm curious to see how things are going because Mom says both Dr. Hale and the wound team at Heartland say her wound is healing quite well. Dave, who's coming in on Monday, and I will take her to the wound clinic appointment. 

Mom's Medicare eligibility for rehab expired on Saturday, but she's staying at Heartland for a bit longer as a private pay patient in order to finish up her IV therapy and determine her next living situation.She will not be receiving physical therapy, so visitors, take heed: that means she's likely to be in her room if you wish to visit. The geriatric case manager we met with felt that despite what St. Anne's said, Mom was a good candidate for assisted living and identified a few places that could do the wound care that she requires. One of the tasks Dave has on his dance card is to have Mom assessed by one or more of these places and hopefully move ahead on this. Mom, of course, would prefer to go home, but understands (or at least on Saturday understood) that assisted living is the best place for her to go next. Hopefully in a couple weeks we'll announce a new address for her.