General Update #252 - Monday, December 21, 2020 (Updated)

9:10 a.m. - Craig called Dusty to notify him that he had been called by the Life Alert system and notified that Joyce had activated her call button but the operator told him that Joyce did not need assistance and that no emergency response units were being dispatched to the farmhouse. Craig asked if Jess was on her way out at the farmhouse to check on Joyce as he was off-site in Dusty, WA at the moment and would not get back to the farm for several hours. Dusty updated Craig that he was covering Jess' morning shift at the farm today after his morning meeting concluded with his director. 

9:16 a.m. - Life Alert system called Dusty to notify him that Joyce had activated her assistance call button but did not require assistance and no response units were being dispatched to farmhouse. Dusty let Craig know that they finally called him. Dusty departed for farmhouse to cover Jess' morning shift for Joyce.

Dusty arrived to farmhouse ~9:30 a.m. after his morning meeting concluded to provide care for Joyce (taking morning shift from Jess). Joyce found awake and coloring in her coloring book without her oxygen line in place. Dusty confirmed with Joyce that the Life Alert call this morning was non-emergency and Joyce did not initiate it. Joyce informed Dusty that the base unit activated and informed her that the test for functionality needed to be done, so she followed the instructions and told the operator who connected with her that she had been instructed by the base unit to push the button on her transmitter. At that point the phone calls to family members went out that Joyce had activated her assistance call button but did not need help. Dusty and Joyce joked that the operator should phrase things differently to something like "This is a test call of the system" or something similar so the family doesn't panic. Joyce thought that she should be able to respond "I'm coloring, leave me alone" and that should be enough for the operator and not have them call the family members. Joyce commented that she "can get into trouble without doing anything at all." 

9:33 a.m. - Dusty notified Craig that the Life Alert system call was just a test to ensure functionality.

9:35 a.m. - Joyce refused breakfast, saying she was not hungry. Bathroom trip declined.

9:50 a.m. - Joyce put away her coloring book. Bathroom trip declined. Joyce began reading today's newspaper Dusty had brought inside.

9:58 a.m. - Carol contacted Dusty about the Life Alert system call, Dusty confirmed it was just the testing the company's system conducts. Carol will follow up with Connie, who had contacted Carol about the message she received from the company letting her know Joyce had activated the system.

10:17 a.m. - BP 171/84, pulse 70. 

10:29 a.m. - Breakfast (leftover McDonald's hotcakes, scrambled eggs, 1/2 banana, tea, nutritional shake). Morning medication.

As they watched A California Christmas movie, Joyce told the story of how they had once had the idea to raise turkeys on the farm when she was growing up on her mother's orchard up at Rathdrum. Joyce stated that they were a menace and had no idea why Alice thought that was a good idea or why they did it as Joyce could not recall ever eating any of them or selling them for meat. They had built several "houses" for the turkeys, about dog house sized. They'd be tied to them with ropes around their ankle or foot so they could not wander too far. "Those turkeys most likely did not care for our attempts at domesticating them," Joyce said. Alice had chickens at the orchard so it was doubtful the turkeys were for bug control. The chicken house "was quite big" according to Joyce. They had pigs at times, and calves at a time that Alice would raise. The calves were raised to pay for the electricity on the orchard homestead. 

Breakfast finished by 11:10 a.m. (everything eaten). Joyce concerned about nutritional shake, which she had not started drinking. Joyce thought that it contained medicine being snuck into her. Dusty assured her it was just a dietary supplement and she began drinking it.

Joyce began napping ~11:30 a.m.

12:41 p.m. - Bathroom trip. Urinary incontinence. Diaper and diaper pad insert replaced. Remainder of urine passed. PT walk to living room. Returned to recliner by 12:54 p.m. Joyce resumed napping in her recliner.

1 p.m. - Lunch declined. Napping resumed.

1:45 p.m. - Joyce woke herself up from napping. Lunch declined. Started new Christmas movie for Joyce to watch. Joyce apologized for being so sleepy while Dusty was out visiting her. Joyce posited that she was sleepy from fighting off her allergies. Joyce reported nasal congestion. Dusty asked if she would like another dose of antihistamine but Joyce declined for the moment.

3:07 p.m. - Bathroom trip. Dry until Joyce moved to seat herself onto toilet seat riser, releasing her bladder early - required change of diaper and diaper pad insert. Remainder of urine passed. PT walk to living room.

3:20 p.m. - Lunch (1/2 can peaches, 1 slice whole wheat bread with peanut butter). Finished by 3:36 p.m. Joyce resumed napping.

4:05 p.m. - BP 126/73, pulse 74. BGL @ 166.

4:52 p.m. - Joyce setup with enrichment activity (laundry folding). Joyce stated that she might do that tomorrow instead of this evening as she was still feeling tired. Dusty confirmed that would be fine.

Dusty departing farmhouse ~5:15 p.m., returning tomorrow to provide morning/afternoon care for Joyce.

Carol arriving to provide evening care for Joyce.

6:30 p.m. - Dinner (lasagna, chocolate cake, cherries). Evening medication.

6:45 p.m. - Carole (Kindred) called Dusty's cellphone to schedule a visit with Joyce between 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow.

8:30 p.m. - Ready for bed.