Death on the Doomstead

[18hammers]

I spent parts of the last 3 days digging a grave. I am about down to my hips when standing in it. That will be enough. I don't think one of my dogs will make the winter and I needed the grave dug before the ground freezes up. I put my dogs down myself when the times comes, always have. It is harder to do as I get older but I have found a easer way. I give them a strong muscle relaxant, let that sit for a hour, then will give them a couple strong pain killers like Morphine sulfate. The combo lays them flat out asleep and feeling no paid. Then the .22 comes out.   

[18hammers]

The old dog is still hanging in, let her outside this morning to pee, and watched her go, then laid down in the -36 snow. I think she just wanted it over. Called her back inside. I have seen the same with the elderly, there comes a point they have had enough.

[18hammers]

The old dog is done, She had a good life, I will get her in the ground tomorrow. Down to one dog now.

[18hammers]

Well it looks like a death is coming to the doomstead again. My mother took a fall a few months back, she is in her 90's. Didn't break anything but I moved her in with me as I could see she could not continue living on her own. 6 weeks ago I had to call the ambulance when she again fell hitting her head on the floor. She has been in the hospital ever since, with issue after issue, been called a couple times to come in as they thought she might not make it. I have visited every day and watched her condition go down hill. I suspect she wont be leaving the hospital.
 I got the call today for a meeting with the doctor Monday. They said it is to talk over options as they cant do more for her. She had lots of problems as someone in there 90'S does but was able to get around her house, cook, garden and look after herself very well for someone that age, now she can't stand or take a step. This loss of independence has hit her hard. I know I can't care for her in the way she needs, can't even go to the bathroom without help now. I suspect they will tell me she needs palliative care. This will hit her hard as she still thinks she is going to be going home. This is likely the future for many of us, one day you are getting by and the next you are in a hospital and will have to accept the fact you are not going to leave. It will break her heart if this is what the doctors tell us Monday, I have known this seeing her condition slide so I am braced for the news, but it has not sunk into her how far her abilities have fallen.

[RE]

Well it looks like a death is coming to the doomstead again. My mother took a fall a few months back, she is in her 90's. Didn't break anything but I moved her in with me as I could see she could not continue living on her own. 6 weeks ago I had to call the ambulance when she again fell hitting her head on the floor. She has been in the hospital ever since, with issue after issue, been called a couple times to come in as they thought she might not make it. I have visited every day and watched her condition go down hill. I suspect she wont be leaving the hospital.
 I got the call today for a meeting with the doctor Monday. They said it is to talk over options as they cant do more for her. She had lots of problems as someone in there 90'S does but was able to get around her house, cook, garden and look after herself very well for someone that age, now she can't stand or take a step. This loss of independence has hit her hard. I know I can't care for her in the way she needs, can't even go to the bathroom without help now. I suspect they will tell me she needs palliative care. This will hit her hard as she still thinks she is going to be going home. This is likely the future for many of us, one day you are getting by and the next you are in a hospital and will have to accept the fact you are not going to leave. It will break her heart if this is what the doctors tell us Monday, I have known this seeing her condition slide so I am braced for the news, but it has not sunk into her how far her abilities have fallen.

Probably in her condition she will qualify for a Post Acute Care facility.  This is the step right below Hospital care but above Assisted Living.   There is a higher standard of care with nurses on duty 24/7 along with the CNAs.  Assisted Care facilities generally only have PCAs on duty 24/7.  PCA is an even lower certificate than, requiring only a few days of on the job training.  CNAs have a 6 week curse and a state test to take.

PAC facilities vary in quality, but they are far better than AC Gulags.  There usually isn't much choice in a given area, and beds aren't always available.  If that's the case or if Medicare will not foot the bill for a PAC, your only choice is an AC unless you have a lot of money.  I am told there are some decent ones out there, however I have yet to see one.  If she does end up being sent to one, check it out carefully and shop the ones in your neighborhood for the best looking dog in the pound.  Don't just look at the menu, ask to eat all 3 meals with the residents and see if you can stomach the food.  See if they serve real Juice, or just Kool Aid they call juice.  Check out their Call Button system, whether they have 2 way intercom or just an audio buzzer.  Find out their official staff resident ratios on all shifts, then ask to see their attendance records for the last month for how many call in sick and what the actual on-duty numbers were.  Check out how many bathrooms are available in the facility, there usually are not bathrooms for every patient.  Often because many residents cannot get to the bathroom themselves, there is a schedule and the PCA bring them and leave them on the toilet for a half hour, so the baathroom becomes unavailable for long periods.  This is not usually a problem in PACs where ther is a bathroom in every room or suite shared by 2 people only.

Let me know what happens, and what they bill Medicare/Medicaid.  I'll let you know if it's in line with the current standards.

RE

[K-Dog]

It is good to hear from you 18 hammers.  But I am sorry to hear things do not go well for you and yours.