Mom works on her under-painting
Last week, we had painting time with mom. Hadn't seen her concentration this sharp since pre-stroke! We had a lot of fun.
Julie making pastel paintings
Here's what I made.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Painting with Dolly
Mom works on her under-painting
Last week, we had painting time with mom. Hadn't seen her concentration this sharp since pre-stroke! We had a lot of fun.
Julie making pastel paintings
Here's what I made.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
That's Amore
Dolly is settling in nicely now at Epoch. She moved in on Friday and complained about it all weekend. Being so close to her intense mood changes, I can easily say that her actions explain more than her tantrums scream. She has been participating in activities almost every chance she can, which is awesome. She is even claiming that the food is good now. She has some friends that she meets in the hallway, and she eats with them in the dining room for lunch and dinner. She is accepting Epoch as her community, this is great!
Today I stopped in after work to have a quick visit, and I found Dolly in the Alzheimer's wing dining room. There was a musical show. A man singing and a woman on the electric piano. I just caught 'That's Amore' and realized right away how much Mom was enjoying it. She was bobbing her head and mouthing the words, I couldn't interrupt that.
I dropped by a little later, and she was in the hallway with her friends. I sat with her there with her friends for an hour. We chatted, talked about food and the wonderful dessert they had at lunchtime. There was a bit of controversy over what the fruit was that everyone had with the whipped cream, Mom said it was cherries, Marion said strawberries, but in the end it didn't matter. The dinner trucks came, the first one went into the Alzheimer's unit, the second one went to the Sub-acute unit, and the third truck was gossiped about even before it arrived. I let her go to the dining room to eat.
They are having another show tomorrow, a folk singer. Mom said she wants to go to that, and even told the activities lady that I was 'maybe' going to come to that show, too. We'll see.
Today I stopped in after work to have a quick visit, and I found Dolly in the Alzheimer's wing dining room. There was a musical show. A man singing and a woman on the electric piano. I just caught 'That's Amore' and realized right away how much Mom was enjoying it. She was bobbing her head and mouthing the words, I couldn't interrupt that.
I dropped by a little later, and she was in the hallway with her friends. I sat with her there with her friends for an hour. We chatted, talked about food and the wonderful dessert they had at lunchtime. There was a bit of controversy over what the fruit was that everyone had with the whipped cream, Mom said it was cherries, Marion said strawberries, but in the end it didn't matter. The dinner trucks came, the first one went into the Alzheimer's unit, the second one went to the Sub-acute unit, and the third truck was gossiped about even before it arrived. I let her go to the dining room to eat.
They are having another show tomorrow, a folk singer. Mom said she wants to go to that, and even told the activities lady that I was 'maybe' going to come to that show, too. We'll see.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Some Big News
Tomorrow is going to be a big day for Dolly!
We are moving to Sharon. Epoch has an empty bed and is 1.9 miles from my house, not to mention it is basically on Julie's way to and from work. I think this will be a fantastic move considering we will be able to pop in more often to visit with her. Heck, if she doesn't like her dinner, we can bring her something else! I am very excited, and Mom is too.
Mom is also a bit nervous. I've noticed that she has finally been making friends at Sherrill House, and now she will be leaving tomorrow (it is sad). This I hope, will foster her friendship faeries to make friends more quickly than she has in the past. She made no friends at Spaulding (only staff friends), and just started making friends at Sherrill House a couple of weeks ago. She has been there since June. I am so glad that she is coming out of her shell, so to speak. I hope the friendship faeries continue to do their work when we get settled at Epoch.
I had some training on transferring Dolly today. She did very well, I did very well, I think we passed. We did a few wheelchair to bed transfers, then we went outside and did a couple of wheelchair to car transfers, John(PT) is a good teacher. I feel more confident in helping her transfer which is good, and she did a great job. She still needs constant reminding on her position, her feet, locking the chair, where to push off, and where to grab. Hopefully we can make all these motions second nature if we keep at it.
Dolly also did some hallway walking with her special side walker. She needs assistance, but really, she looked good walking. I think the carpet was her nemesis, she does so much better on smooth flooring with it. Her foot got stuck a few times in the short pile, she doesn't lift her leg, she just shuffles it. It was a good job anyway, I was thrilled to see her "GO"!
Hopefully we can make some more improvements at Epoch and get her back on Medicare for the time being. Wouldn't that be sweet?
We are moving to Sharon. Epoch has an empty bed and is 1.9 miles from my house, not to mention it is basically on Julie's way to and from work. I think this will be a fantastic move considering we will be able to pop in more often to visit with her. Heck, if she doesn't like her dinner, we can bring her something else! I am very excited, and Mom is too.
Mom is also a bit nervous. I've noticed that she has finally been making friends at Sherrill House, and now she will be leaving tomorrow (it is sad). This I hope, will foster her friendship faeries to make friends more quickly than she has in the past. She made no friends at Spaulding (only staff friends), and just started making friends at Sherrill House a couple of weeks ago. She has been there since June. I am so glad that she is coming out of her shell, so to speak. I hope the friendship faeries continue to do their work when we get settled at Epoch.
I had some training on transferring Dolly today. She did very well, I did very well, I think we passed. We did a few wheelchair to bed transfers, then we went outside and did a couple of wheelchair to car transfers, John(PT) is a good teacher. I feel more confident in helping her transfer which is good, and she did a great job. She still needs constant reminding on her position, her feet, locking the chair, where to push off, and where to grab. Hopefully we can make all these motions second nature if we keep at it.
Dolly also did some hallway walking with her special side walker. She needs assistance, but really, she looked good walking. I think the carpet was her nemesis, she does so much better on smooth flooring with it. Her foot got stuck a few times in the short pile, she doesn't lift her leg, she just shuffles it. It was a good job anyway, I was thrilled to see her "GO"!
Hopefully we can make some more improvements at Epoch and get her back on Medicare for the time being. Wouldn't that be sweet?
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Norwood Day!
Yesterday, Kathy and I took Mom to Norwood Day. A day that they shut down the center of Norwood and a street fair ensues. Bands, booths of information, booths of goods, food, games, and even rides for kids clog the street.
Dolly started asking to go only a couple of days ago. She has been attending Norwood day for the last 6 years or so. At least ever since the Frame Shop/Gallery opened. On Thuresday night we talked, and she started begging to go. She actually said "You're my only hope" Hahaa!...Obi-Wan Kenobi...
Mmmmm...Ice cream from Ice Jacks! Hi there, Kathy's arm!
My favorite picture of the day. Mom is center/right in the pic. She had so much fun...I think this says it all.
Mom and me yesterday. She looks pained, but she really was having a great time. She still has a hard time getting her mood across with facial expressions.
We all had a great time.
Dolly started asking to go only a couple of days ago. She has been attending Norwood day for the last 6 years or so. At least ever since the Frame Shop/Gallery opened. On Thuresday night we talked, and she started begging to go. She actually said "You're my only hope" Hahaa!...Obi-Wan Kenobi...
Mmmmm...Ice cream from Ice Jacks! Hi there, Kathy's arm!
My favorite picture of the day. Mom is center/right in the pic. She had so much fun...I think this says it all.
Mom and me yesterday. She looks pained, but she really was having a great time. She still has a hard time getting her mood across with facial expressions.
We all had a great time.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Dolly Walks
Visited mom today, and i got to see her walk. I also had Lesson #1 in assisting mom with her walking. It was so exciting to see the progress she has made! She did well. She's walking several feet at a clip without sitting to rest- maybe 15 feet or so. I was so proud of her.
Today, I observed and was also given the opportunity to learn the ropes a bit with guidance from Susan, mom's substitute teacher. (Susan was great today, and I think mom will enjoy working with her this week.) Next week, I will train again with John, her regular teacher who is currently on vacation.
Good job, mom! Keep up the good work.
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