General Update #195 - October 24, 2020

October 23, 2020 Addendum

Carol called Dusty ~6:17 p.m. to ask about plan for grapes. Carol and Joyce will de-stem the concord grapes and prep them for canning tomorrow.

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October 24, 2020

Jess and Dusty arrived to farmhouse ~8:50 a.m. after shoveling snow, running errands in town, and buying breakfast for Joyce from McDonald's. Joyce found sleeping, rolled forward into a ball-like position in her recliner without oxygen line in place. Jess worked with Joyce on breathing exercises. 

~9:05 a.m. - Bathroom trip. Joyce released her bladder while seating herself on toilet riser. Urine passed. Jess cleaned and sanitized floor and toilet riser. Standing water appears to have been left by someone on bathroom floor when they used farmhouse bathroom which was not cleaned up (most likely tracked in snow before Jess and Dusty arrived to farmhouse). Joyce was concerned about the mess but she avoided the water and Jess cleaned it up.

~9:17 a.m. - Craig arrived to visit and provide update on Kip's mom. It was confirmed she passed due to COVID-19 infection. 

9:24 a.m. - Joyce returned to kitchen and wished everyone "good morning." Joyce then asked Jess if she had called everyone by their correct names.

9:30 a.m. - Nutritional shake and morning medication (carvedilol, metformin, 2 Tylenol, multivitamin, potassium, iron) given to Joyce. Joyce expressed concern over quantity of pills she was given to take. Jess explained each pill's purpose, which seems to have helped, and sat with Joyce as she took her medication. 

9:30 a.m. - Vitals taken. BGL @ 136. BP 164/90, pulse 84.  

10 a.m. - Breakfast (McDonald's breakfast platter - 3 hot cakes with butter and syrup, sausage patty). 

10:20 a.m. - Carol called Dusty's cellphone, discussing plan for Candice grapes (dehydrate and freeze some for Joyce to have as snacks). Connie called while Dusty was on call with Carol.

10:22 a.m. - Dusty returned Connie's phone call. Connie wanting to schedule family meeting to plan for Joyce's care for November, December, and January. Dusty confirmed today would be fine to meet.

10:25 a.m. - Bathroom trip without incident. Type 6 bowel movement.

10:38 a.m. - Joyce became upset about wanting to look for kettles for canning. Jess asked Joyce to explain and assured her that Joyce's concerns were not dumb. Eventually determined that Joyce was wanting to find the canning kettles stored in the laundry room. Jess retrieved them and showed Joyce that they were too small. Once Joyce saw them she remembered that they were too small and calmed. Jess put the kettles back where they were obtained from. Jess applied lidocaine patch to Joyce's back and a Tiger Balm patch to Joyce's left knee for pain relief.



11:55 a.m. - Bathroom trip without incident. Type 6 bowel movement. Joyce returned to recliner ~12:14 p.m. Joyce was fidgeting a lot and stated she was "uncomfortable" in her recliner prior to bathroom trip.

~1:40 p.m. - Bathroom trip. Minor urinary incontinence requiring diaper pad insert replacement. Urine passed. PT walk to family room before returning to recliner ~1:52 p.m.

~3:15 p.m. - Grape juice canning completed, 21 jars.





~3:25 p.m. - Bathroom trip. Minor urinary incontinence requiring diaper pad insert replacement. Joyce released her bladder early while seating herself on toilet riser, requiring diaper replacement. Remaining urine passed. Dusty cleaned and sanitized floor and toilet riser. Joyce took PT walk to family room before returning to recliner ~3:40 p.m. Joyce stated that she appreciates having he toilet riser with its handles as it makes it very easy for her to rise up post-toileting. Joyce had to be reminded to use walker correctly (was pushing it out ahead of her too far). 

~3:43 p.m. - Late lunch (hamburger helper, sweet peas) due to canning of grape juice. 2 Tylenol given for pain relief. Joyce requested ice cubes for making "really cold water." Jess provided Joyce with a cup of cold water from the water dispenser. Joyce finished ~4 p.m., 1/2 of hamburger helper and 2 bits of peas consumed.

~4:25 p.m. - Bathroom trip without incident. Urine passed. Returned to recliner ~4:40 p.m.

~6:21 p.m. - Dusty discovered the farm cat, "Kitty Meow Meow a.k.a. Pepper a.k.a. Nancy," had been trapped in the farmhouse's basement for an unknown amount of time and released her back outside. Dusty had been hearing the cat's cries all day while canning grape juice in the kitchen but had assumed that she was either on the roof, outside on the window sill, or out on the door step calling for Craig.

~6:38 p.m. - Joyce felt the Lidocaine patch on her back and confirmed that it was from today and not forgotten from a previous day.

~7 p.m. - Family meeting to discuss care plans for Joyce (November 2, 2020 to January 31, 2021) when Dusty is not permitted to do remote work at the farmhouse during the weekdays. Family will pursue a hybrid care model.

~8:45 p.m. - Bathroom trip. Minor urinary incontinence. Urine passed. Returned to recliner ~9 p.m. Evening medications given (metformin, carvedilol). 1/2 banana given as snack.  

10 p.m. - Bathroom trip without incident. Urine passed. Joyce returned to recliner ~10:11 p.m.

Joyce ready for bed. Dusty returning tomorrow to provide care for Joyce for the day.

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Dusty sanitized the washing machine today with Affresh cleaning tablet. 

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