General Update #214 - Friday, November 13, 2020

Jess unable to arrive to farmhouse due to inclement weather and vehicle unable to maneuver. Craig was on-site at farmhouse when Dusty called him - breakfast and morning medication administered to Joyce by Craig.

Dusty negotiated with his director at the university to complete his morning work at office and then depart for farmhouse, switching to remote work for remainder of shift. Plans continued to alter through the day due to snow storm. Dusty arrived to farmhouse ~2 p.m. after dropping Jess off at work. Joyce found upright in her recliner, coloring, without oxygen line in place and listening to Mary Poppins. Joyce semi-coherent. She expressed concern that she would have been left alone without anyone to see her because of the snow storm that hit earlier today. Joyce stated that she made her own breakfast and has been having a quiet day at home. Joyce declined bathroom trip.

Dusty returned Craig's call to his cell phone and received an update on Joyce's morning. Joyce had last used the bathroom ~1:30 p.m. Craig had found Joyce making herself a half of a peanut butter and honey sandwich this morning for her breakfast and was attempting to make herself a duplicate Dixie cup of breakfast medications by copying the pills that were already set out for her to take this morning in case people were not able to reach her tomorrow morning. 

2:14 p.m. - Joyce stated she was tired of coloring and set her kit aside. Vitals taken, BP 138/76, pulse 78. BGL @ 132.

2:31 p.m. - Lunch (Rosauers cheddar macaroni salad, artichoke pasta salad). Joyce stated that she was very happy that it was Friday the 13th as she always felt like those were good days for her.

3:02 p.m. - Lunch finished, Joyce resumed coloring. 

3:19 p.m. - Joyce asked Dusty if the work phone calls he was making in the last twenty minutes were about her phone bill. Dusty asked what Joyce meant and she said that she was worried that Dusty was paying her phone bill. Dusty explained to Joyce that he gets his work calls routed through his computer and wasn't talking about her phone bill at all to anyone he had spoken to so far. Joyce expressed concern that she was behind on her phone bill as she has not paid it recently, or any of her bills at all recently. Dusty reminded Joyce that Carol and Connie were overseeing her finances now. Joyce expressed concerns about people being "in her business" as she did not recall they had taken over. Joyce stated "it would be nice to be told these things!" Dusty worked on reassuring her that no one was doing anything nefarious. 

3:30 p.m. - Joyce declined bathroom trip. Began napping

3:45 p.m. - Joyce declined bathroom trip. Resumed napping.

4 p.m. - Joyce declined bathroom trip. Oxygen line put back into place (Joyce had moved it to a chinstrap position on her face while napping). Resumed napping.

4:15 p.m. - Joyce declined bathroom trip, "pretty soon" was her commitment. Resumed napping after insisting she was "fake napping." 

4:40 p.m. - Bathroom. Urinary incontinence requiring change of diaper pad insert. Joyce released bladder while lowering herself onto toilet riser - new diaper required. Remaining urine passed. PT walk to living room and back to kitchen - unsteady, in pain. Lower body PT work with Dusty was declined. Coloring resumed. Toilet riser, sink, and bathroom floor sanitized.

5:32 p.m. - Joyce asked Dusty if he was getting hungry for supper. Dusty reminded Joyce that he was making dinner this evening for them both. Joyce admitted that she remembered that. 

6:11 p.m. - Joyce visited with Dusty about today's snow storm while he worked on dinner. Joyce commented that she was missing Jess today and was sad to learn that Jess would not be out this weekend to visit.

7:20 p.m. - Vitals taken, BP 165/87, pulse 76. BGL @ 117.

7:21 p.m. - Dinner (Fish filets with tartar sauce and lemon juice, garlic butter biscuit). 

7:50 p.m. - Dinner finished, evening medication taken. 

7:58 p.m. - Bathroom trip declined. 

9:13 p.m. - Bathroom, minor urinary incontinence requiring diaper pad insert change. Urine passed. Joyce expressed desire to begin sleeping in her bedroom again. Dusty recommended they started practicing tomorrow with late morning or afternoon naps when family caregivers would be present. After several rounds of discussion, Joyce confirmed starting with daytime sleeping would be best. Joyce stated that if she is to start sleeping in her bedroom again overnight, she would like the doors to the house locked. Dusty confirmed that could be worked out with family caregivers and hide-a-key locations setup if they were not wanting keys issued. Joyce thought hide-a-key locations would be fine but could be pursued later when she does start sleeping in her bedroom more regularly. Joyce expressed relief at having the basement door sealed off so she does not have to worry about falling down the stairs again. 

Joyce took a PT walk to living room before returning to kitchen. Declined OT/PT work in recliner. Dusty got Joyce to agree to trying to push herself to do PT and OT tomorrow. 

Joyce asked for her nutritional shake to be put away for tomorrow. Joyce settled down for bedtime.

Dusty departing farmhouse ~10:10 p.m., planning on returning tomorrow morning to provide care for Joyce (Jess will not be out on Saturday or Sunday so she can work on her art commissions and have mental health/self care time).

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