March marks a milestone..........or a year stone?

Jack has been in the nursing facility for over a year now. I have to say that the professional care and social interaction is really great.

Care isn't as fast as Jack would like it and sometimes he gets really frustrated when an aide says " I'll be right back.. and doesn't come right back", but there are always distractions and sometimes people do forget to come right back. That is what that call button is for. But as far as the professional care.....it is good. Doctors advice is always available to the nurses and they come regularly each month and on call in an emergency. There isn't that need for appointments and long waits. If the nurse says this is an emergency......things get taken care of.

I was concerned when Jack caught a cold and had all the uncomfortable symptoms but I was assured he was taking medication to help his body fight on its own. And of course I caught the cold from him and wasn't so successful in making short work of the situation. Again it is reassuring to know someone is taking good care of him.

During the period when there was no power and water........I was comfortable knowing he was receiving care and generators were being connected. There were some night terrors until I could get a battery powered lamp to him but by that time the generators were rumbling along and THERE WAS LIGHT. The same situation with water made things a little dicy but water came on faster there than it did for the local area so again he was in good hands. Nursing facilities were at the head of the line for help in those situations.

The social situation in a nursing facility is always a plus. Recently there was a wedding and Jack was asked to be the "best man". The family picked someone else but the groom had chosen Jack. Currently Jack is trying to help another resident in adjusting to home away from home. Jack keeps telling the wife, that he himself had gone through those stages and he and I survived! smiles The resident cries a lot and Jack is a good listener. Everyone seems to look out for each other and check on each other even if they can't do much, they care. A friend of mine has her mother in the same facility. She is 107 and the friend is pleased with the daily dressing and grooming of her mother, in addition to the care.

The food is always a problem. Some love everything, others like Jack are critical and picky but that is fine. He knows some things he should not eat and sticks to his guns about dark meat, gravy, heavy sauces, and lots of carbs. Most residents in this area like those southern comfort foods, but Jack is a salad guy instead of a meat and potatoes man. I supply lots of cottage cheese, fresh fruit, and sometimes crackers. The wife of one of the residents brings Jack goodies and that is wonderful....she stays and chats and that is a boost to morale.

I am usually at the facility twice a day. I do not take him out anymore. I cannot do it physically and he isn't always able unless his Parkinson's meds have been given recently. Also, there are sometimes emotional and physical changes occuring quickly and beyond my abilities.

Jack needed a new power chair but Medicare will not provide one for someone in a nursing facility. The local store provides a lot of help with the chair and they found a "almost like new" one that is exactly like the one he had so we made a seat switch and same considerable $$$$. A rental was 13 dollars a day until the switch was made and it was different and more difficult to operate. I have noticed that Jack isn't quite as accurate with his power chair and a lot of bloody knuckles, bumps, and "runs into" are on the list these days.

I have been doing the April scary deadline tax (lol) and am shocked at the amount of medical deductions there are this year. We are private pay and that takes a toll on savings accumulated over the years. Hope Uncle Sam has a gentle heart this year when it comes to returns.

I hope I can keep the blog up to date now........life seems to have lots of interuptions that keeps me from writing......or wanting to.

COME QUICKLY SPRING!