Saturday, June 9, 2007

Went to work early this morning....out of there in under two hours. Headed home, picked up Pamela and then went to pick up lunch for all of us. Did a little birthday shopping with Pamela at Allusia on Greenwood while we waited for our lunch to be prepared down the street. Mom had requested Chinese food.

Got to the apartment and started the routine. Pamela helped Mom get lunch set out while Dad and I navigated our way to the bathroom. After getting him cleaned up and to the table I fed him some food. He is eating less, but still eating, which is good. Got the call from the hospice intake nurse during lunch that she was on her way and would be there in half an hour.

Carissa arrived and we began the intake process. She spoke with both Mom and Dad and got as much info from them as possible. Mom was pretty tired and not really able to help much...Dad mostly slept through all the paperwork and discussion. It seemed clear to both of us that we are going to have to get Mom some paid nursing help. She can't manage Dad with just hospice care.

Carissa told me what to expect as Dad declines...sleeping more, eating cold fruit, Ensure etc. He will become incontinent, need morphine to help manage the pain, and as he nears death, his breathing will change...and there will be a rattle in his chest. She wrote down all his meds and we decided to add Ibuprofen back in to help manage the bone pain.

After she left, Pamela and I rearranged the living room to accomodate the hospital bed and commode that will arrive on Monday. I will be there on Monday to help with that...and to greet the person who will be his primary hospice nurse. He will also have a home health aid a couple times of week. As his death approaches the nursing visits will increase. There is a possibility that we may have to move him to a hospice facility near the end. I have to play that one by ear.

I took the car keys for their car, we bid Mom goodbye and drove home. It felt so strange to be driving off in my Dad's last car. It is a Nissan Altima that we hope to sell soon. We are going to need the cash, either for Mom's care or to help with Dad's expenses...or both.

We got home...watched TV for awhile and then went to the movies. I felt flat...and exhausted.

I go back up there tomorrow after church. I am going to have to step up my time up there....Mom needs more help.