I think my test went okay this morning. There were some words I couldn't find and sort of puzzled out from the rest of the story, but on the whole I think it was okay.
Not so okay is what I heard from my brother Danny, who is now in Richmond. Seems that twice now Daddy has actually gotten out of bed by himself and managed, via wheelchair or walker, to get to the bathroom by himself. Mother took a nap and when she woke up Daddy mentioned it to her. Another time, he was so determined to get up that Danny and Mother wound up helping him to the bathroom, sans walker. The worst part is that Mother was on his weak side. He still can't lift up his left foot, so was dragging it along. Danny rang for staff to help but they didn't get there quickly enough for Daddy, and he by god wasn't going to wait. The staff person finally arrived while he was in there and her attitude was apparently along the lines of "Good job!" I guarandamntee you that the PT person does NOT know about this.
It is ridiculous that Mother is insisting on staying with him, since she is either asleep or so distracted by her puzzles or letters or whatever she's doing that she never notices that he's getting out of bed. The PT told him that he shouldn't use the walker without staff assistance, so Daddy seems to think that means if he can get around any other way, it's okay. And Mother is what sleep Mother IS getting is while she's sitting up on an armchair. Don't you know that's good for her head and back?
I don't have any idea how to convey to him how dangerous this is. He is so damn stubborn, and has been so independent that he absolutely won't admit to himself or anyone else that he might need help.
Edit: We just had a family pow-wow via cell phones. Danny did find Mother's cell phone, so she won't be totally incommunicado. He's also taking in Daddy's TV so they'll be able to watch the news and such-- the one in the room didn't work at all. They are also considering asking for a bed alarm-- at this point none of us have any hope that it would actually cause staff member(s) to come see what's happening, but it might help remind Daddy to at least ask for help. And Mother is going to ask Dr Gillespie to talk to Daddy and explain that he WILL be going home but needs to be able to walk safely, and that is just a matter of getting some strength back. Man, I hope some of this works.
Not so okay is what I heard from my brother Danny, who is now in Richmond. Seems that twice now Daddy has actually gotten out of bed by himself and managed, via wheelchair or walker, to get to the bathroom by himself. Mother took a nap and when she woke up Daddy mentioned it to her. Another time, he was so determined to get up that Danny and Mother wound up helping him to the bathroom, sans walker. The worst part is that Mother was on his weak side. He still can't lift up his left foot, so was dragging it along. Danny rang for staff to help but they didn't get there quickly enough for Daddy, and he by god wasn't going to wait. The staff person finally arrived while he was in there and her attitude was apparently along the lines of "Good job!" I guarandamntee you that the PT person does NOT know about this.
It is ridiculous that Mother is insisting on staying with him, since she is either asleep or so distracted by her puzzles or letters or whatever she's doing that she never notices that he's getting out of bed. The PT told him that he shouldn't use the walker without staff assistance, so Daddy seems to think that means if he can get around any other way, it's okay. And Mother is what sleep Mother IS getting is while she's sitting up on an armchair. Don't you know that's good for her head and back?
I don't have any idea how to convey to him how dangerous this is. He is so damn stubborn, and has been so independent that he absolutely won't admit to himself or anyone else that he might need help.
Edit: We just had a family pow-wow via cell phones. Danny did find Mother's cell phone, so she won't be totally incommunicado. He's also taking in Daddy's TV so they'll be able to watch the news and such-- the one in the room didn't work at all. They are also considering asking for a bed alarm-- at this point none of us have any hope that it would actually cause staff member(s) to come see what's happening, but it might help remind Daddy to at least ask for help. And Mother is going to ask Dr Gillespie to talk to Daddy and explain that he WILL be going home but needs to be able to walk safely, and that is just a matter of getting some strength back. Man, I hope some of this works.