I have worked at my current facility for just over a year now.

Unlike a secure Alzheimer's unit or skilled facility, the assisted living environment sees many couples residing in their little apartments.

In skilled or secure units it is rare they can accommodate a couple whether it be because of the bathroom being connected to the rooms or in a specialized memory support unit both would have to have a diagnosis of some form of dementia.

I have no statistics to go with this post. I am telling this from my experiences.

I feel compelled to share these 3 stories.

"George and Maxine"

I have spoken of George several times. Suffering from severe Alzheimer's disease, he lived with his wife "Maxie" in the facility.

George became seriously ill last Christmas, a stomach virus made him drop 17 pounds in less than 2 weeks. Maxine refused sending him to the hospital, out of fear, out of love....finally he was sent, but it was too late. He died a few days later.

Maxine, who had been healthy for the most part, buried George...about a week later Maxie suffered a stroke and died by the new year.

 "Joe and Addie"

Joe also suffering from moderate Alzheimer's filled his days with taking care of Addie in their one bedroom apartment.

Joe was healthy as a horse taking only 2 medications a day. He doted over Addie. She had had a stroke years earlier and could not communicate verbally or walk because of total paralysis of her left side.

Addie began to decline after a series of infections. She was put on hospice and remained in bed. Joe did not understand this and rang for staff to get her up for meals and to assist her to bed. He was still holding on to the routine he had known for so long.

Addie passed away. Joe spent his days alone in his apartment, slowly he declined. Less that 3 months later Joe was on hospice, and died in the very room his loving wife did a few months before.

"Sam and Mollie"

My most recent story, Sam and Mollie had been married 72 years. They came to the facility a very colorful couple, always bickering and fighting in a loving sort of way.

Sam suffered from dementia. Mollie, in renal failure, was on dialysis 3 times a week.

Sam had a number of falls during his stay, most were trying to assist Mollie with different chores. Mollie was getting weaker. Sam also losing his strength was spending more and more time in his wheelchair.

They were both sent to a skilled facility for rehab. They returned to the facility last week, on Thursday. Mollie passed away Friday, Sam followed late Sunday night, less than 2 days apart.

Love is so strong. All of these couples had been married over 60 years. I have no idea why it happens like this. The world is full of people who have survived losing a spouse.

In a little over a year I have experienced this 3 times.

I can't help but wonder why.

~Nursey~

 

I know I haven't post on here for a while. I had intented to start regulary posting after my year anniversary.

Nothing has struck me as "blog worthy" until now.

In June, I covered for the day nurse while she enjoyed a much needed vacation. During this time I was sent to a skilled facility to evaluate a potential resident.

 "Henry"

I found "Henry" in his room, dozing quietly. I walked to the edge of the bed smiled, introduced myself. A tall, thin, frail man suffering from cancer smiled back.

We hit it off instantly.

With my check list in hand, his chart, I began asking questions. Henry answered with humor, some sarcasm, and didn't forget to leave out how he hated the food served at the facility.

I followed him to physical therapy. He walked slowly and was very weak. I watched as he did all of the things the physical therapist asked....as he rolled his eyes at me while her back was turned.

I spent about 2 hours with Henry that day.

 

My recommendation:

"Although Henry is alert and oriented x3 I feel he will not thrive in an assisted living setting. Henry is weak and declining. At this time I strongly believe Henry needs the structure and scheduled routine of a skilled nursing facility."

 

 Henry was admitted to the assisted living facility less than a month later despite my recommendation.

Henry was put on hospice 2 weeks ago.

He is dying.

The staff never had the opportunity to see the gentle, witty man I saw during his evaluation. The staff never understood that he needed special attention and coaxing to remain active and to keep his strength.

As caregivers we build relationships with our patients. We have our favorites. We learn their likes, dislikes, how they like their coffee, how the pillows should be when they sleep.

Henry has been deprived of that type of care. I am sad as I take care of Henry. I have no idea what would bring him comfort at this time. He remains in his room alone.

He hasn't been with us long enough to be someones favorite.....

......and Henry will die alone.

On May 8th, 2006 I started this journey of blogging and educating.

 It has been a long, trying year. Hook's illness, my career struggles, and family issues.

I have let this blog kind of sit for a while. I've been trying to find direction. Looking back, reading my posts of the past year, I realized I have missed it.

I was doing a great thing here and I somehow lost sight of that.

This will be a new beginning, I'm back. It's something I need to do.

To all of my blog buddies I thank you for the past year of fun, friendship, and giving me a chance to belong to such a great community.

 

Please share the video I created.

~Alznurse929~

Joy

 

 

How long have I been here?

The walls are all white, there is just a bed.

Why is there a warm, cozy place in my head?

Pictures surround me, a lifetime of joys.

Those people look familiar, who are those boys?

A nurse comes in directs me here or there.

They all look alike and they don't seem to care.

How long have I been here? Where is my wife?

I can only remember scattered bits and pieces of my life.

Could someone take the time, a moment or two?

I'm confused, worried, scared and not sure what to do.

How long have I been here, I'm supposed to go home.

The panic sets in, I begin to roam.

They call them behaviors, I need to be heard.

I try to explain but I can't find the words.

How long have I been here? Do I have to stay?

Everything I love has been taken away.

I hear the word dementia over and over again,

I guess that's the name of the Hell that I'm in.

~Nursey~

Me at work...smiles and hugs!!

 

Mental Exercise

Stimulating your brain can increase the number of brain cells and the  connections between them.

Mental exercise has been associated with a reduced risk of getting Alzheimer's.  

Do something different or learn something new every day.

Engage in a challenging activity that will exercise your brain.

 

Learn to play a musical instrument; learn a foreign language; start a new hobby.

Play memory games to improve or train your memory.

Visit museums; attend lectures or performances; take a class.

Read, especially challenging material.

Join a book discussion group.

Write. If not a book or article, write in a diary, write letters or emails, or start your memoirs.

 Do crossword puzzles, sudoku, jigsaw puzzles.

Play board games, card games, other strategy games.

Learn a kind of dance that is new to you, which will also give you some exercise.

 Debate or discuss topics with people.

Practice using the opposite hand for something you usually do with your dominant hand.

 

Variety and newness keep the mind sharp and promote a healthy brain. While it’s important to stay connected with old friends and to engage in comfortable routines, it’s just as important to stretch yourself mentally and socially by seeking out new friends.

What role does diet play in memory enhancement?

What you eat makes a definite difference in your ability to process and recall information. Antioxidants, for example, touted for their overall immune-boosting properties, are also key brain boosters, because they improve the flow of oxygen through the body by fighting free radicals.  Eating foods that are rich in fiber and nutrients also helps you resist and combat disease that can affect your memory. 

 Memory Enhancing Fruits and Vegetables

Cantaloupe  

Black Currants

Blueberries

Sweet Potatoes

Asparagus  

Kale

Add red foods to your diet, which not only contain beta-carotene (a precursor of Vitamin A) but also stimulate, strengthen and increase body temperature and circulation, which increases energy.

Red foods affect your muscles, adrenal glands, bladder, lower limbs, spine and reproductive center, making them ideal for combating fatigue, fever, colds, etc. Psychologically, red foods ease depression, promoting a positive attitude, which aids memory.

 Key Red Foods

Watermelon

Strawberries

Cherries

Tomatoes  

Red Cabbage

Radishes

 

Eat healthy, stay active, and keep blogging!!

It does the mind good.

 

Nursey

 

I have suffered with migraines since I was 14.

It begins with my vision, white spots and near blindness. Then the pain arrives. My tongue swells, my hands go numb, and I am incapacitated for hours, sometimes up to 2 days.

 

 When I was 14, the first one happened in school. The white spots came. I ran home to tell my Dad. He rushed me into the hospital. The Doctor thought I was having a stroke. I had a spinal tap, and remained in the hospital for 5 days.

 

The last one I can remember that was intolerable was when my son was 4. I crawled to the phone and called my husband sobbing, I couldn't take care of my child...it hurt to even be.  He took me to the ER where I was given IV Demerol, which didn't even touch the pain.

 

The pain is worse than child birth.

I vomit, can not stay still. Sometimes it hurts so bad tears just roll down my face, and you can't get away from it. After having a severe migraine I actually live in fear as to when it will return.

 

My migraines are very random. Sometimes I can go years without any symptoms. Sometimes the vision problems start and I take 1 ibuprofen and 1 Tylenol, curl up in a ball and pray it will subside.

 

 

 More than 28 million Americans

 — three times more women than men — suffer from migraine headaches, a type of headache that's often severe. Although any head pain can be miserable, a migraine headache is often disabling. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg.

 

A migraine headache is also often accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine pain can be excruciating and may incapacitate you for hours or even days.

 

 Headaches are one of the most common reasons people seek medical help.

Almost everyone has had a headache at one point in his or her life. Although some headaches are a signal of a serious underlying illness—such as a tumor, aneurysm (ballooning of a blood vessel), or other illness—recurrent headaches more often occur without any underlying disease present.

 

I have gotten up twice this week with the visual problems that come before my migraines.

 The cause of them has never been diagnoised.

 So I'm waiting.....

And I'm scared.