Things...

Hi All - 

* Gma is doing well...  Her knees still hurt her as she gets up and around (bathroom, meals).  There is a 'resident care conference' tomorrow morning.  This is a meeting with the resident, family who wish to attend and the SST staff, to discuss her status and what she may need.

* Her memory is (still) playing games with her, but I guess we should expect that from a 93 year old.  One day (time of day) she is very alert and knowing what is going on and the next she struggles a little....  But I think we have seen this for the last six months...

* She is still popular around the the various areas in SST (Sunshine Terrace).  So amiable... On Sunday afternoon she informed me that she is not going to move up to Wing Two, that she will just stay where she's at.  Yesterday I visited with the Admissions person, Ann-Marie, and asked about the move.... Interestingly, she knew nothing about the move either as to when it would happen (we've been waiting for a couple of weeks) and now this 'revelation' that Gma doesn't want to move --- she has friends and staff in Wing Four that she likes (and is accustomed to).  So, the move is off....

* I need to get a longer telephone cable so that the phone can be on her little table next to her instead of across the room.  Her phone number is still the same -- 435-792-3359 and she would love to hear from you all.  However, we've discovered that she is not in her room as much as you would think.  Attached to this note should be the schedule of events that she 'can' attend...  Boy, busy, busy, busy...   

* Regarding the phone, I am still trying to evaluate whether it is worth having for her.  I watch her struggle to remember how to use it...  I know it is a comfort to her to have during her lucid times, but a source of frustration and confusion when she can't remember.  Sometimes she will forget to hang up.  When that happens on me I have to call the nurse's station and ask them to check on her and hang the phone up....  (Which they are happy to do 'cause they all love her.)

* Oh yah, the O2 concentrator issue.  For months "they" have been checking and recording Gma's O2 saturation level while she is on the O2.  It turns out that Medicare will not pay for the O2 machines and tanks if her O2 level is at or above 88%, which of course she is always above that when she is on the air (3%).  So, I've had to work with the staff at SST to get them to take her to the bathroom and back to her bed without the O2 and then take and record the reading.  That info was faxed to the doctor yesterday. The nurse on duty this morning is going to call the Dr's Office to see about getting him to write the proper Rx so Medicare will pay  for it.  I also called the O2 provider (LinCare) and Shawna will call the Dr's Office to make sure things will actually happen.  Turns out the Dr only works 4 days per week, and only 6 hours a day (3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon!  What a sweet gig!)  He is out tomorrow, so I want to get it done today - and I am going to be mostly unavailable today..... (sigh)  Good thing Voice Mail works...