General Update #167 (Updated - 9/23)

9/22/2020

7:30 a.m. - Dusty arrived to farm and found Joyce hunched forward in her recliner without oxygen line in place. Joyce was very incoherent/confused. Joyce had soiled herself at some point during the night or early morning hours. Joyce unable to focus or stand for travel to bathroom. Dusty applied Lidocaine patch to Joyce's back ~7:45 a.m. while she was "working on waking up." Joyce continued to remove oxygen line from herself after Dusty helped walk her through how to get it back into place. When Dusty asked why she was doing that she stated she did not know why and would inform Dusty that she did not know how to get it back into place. 

Craig arrived into farmhouse ~9:40 a.m. to visit with Joyce. 

Joyce felt well enough to stand and traveled to bathroom ~10 a.m. Dusty assisted her with cleanup, provided fresh diaper and diaper pad insert, and changed her skirt and shirt.

10:35 a.m. - Joyce pushed herself to do a PT walk into family room, out to kitchen window, and then back to her recliner.

Dusty collected vitals ~10:45 a.m. Blood pressure 162/104, Pulse 80. Blood sugar level at 125. Joyce stated that she was not feeling hungry but Dusty insisted that she needs food in her stomach for her morning medicine dosage.

11 a.m. - "Brunch" (slice of toast with butter and apricot jam, 1/3 banana, Earl Grey tea). Dusty had to work continually with Joyce to get her to eat.  Joyce experienced difficulty in getting her food into her mouth. Joyce finished eating ~11:40 a.m.

~Noon another phone call received to the farmhouse, asking for Gritman. Caller called back after Dusty informed them it was a private reaidence line. Caller identified themselves as a patient of Gritman attempting to schedule a surgery. 

Joyce slept heavy in her recliner from ~Noon till ~3:40 p.m. when Dusty was able to rouse her for a bathroom trip. Cleaned up Joyce after bowel movement and changed into fresh diaper and fresh skirt. Joyce returned to her recliner ~4:20p.m. Blister on Joyce's buttocks torn open, family caregivers will need to ensure it is cleaned out each bathroom trip and fresh barrier cream is applied. Dusty picking up wound cleaner and fresh tube of barrier cream on his way home this evening. 

Dusty departing farmhouse ~4:45 p.m., returning tomorrow ~8 a.m., Connie arrived ~4:25 p.m. to cover evening shift of care for Joyce. Reviewed wall calendar and resolved gaps on calendar for Joyce care coverage. 

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Susan (Kindred PT) called Dusty ~6 p.m. (9/22) to notify that she would be covering for Marshall for Joyce's PT appointment tomorrow. Susan estimating she would arrive ~4 p.m. but would call Dusty if the timeline changes.


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