Friday, January 27, 2006

Here is new schedule presented at the support group last night at Homestead. They plan on having support groups each month with speakers, etc. There is new activity lady who seems enthusiastic about activities for "lifescenes" at Homestead. Each cluster is for a different level, but no one is excluded from an activity.

Daily Activity Schedule

6:00 am - 8:00 am Toileting, combing hair, brushing teeth, dressing getting ready for breakfast

8:00 am - 9:00 am Eating Breakfast; after break- fast, personal hygiene (ie: brushing teeth and/or dentures in bathroom, toileting, washing hands, etc. ..)

9:30 am - 10:00 am * * Cluster Activities:
Cluster # 1 -Current Events
Cluster #2 -Folding & Sorting Laundry
Cluster #3 -Ball Toss

10:00 am - 11:00 am Snack Time in the Dining Room

11:00 am- 11:30 am * * Cluster Activities:
Cluster # 1 -Baking Bread
Cluster #2 -Listening and Sing- a-long to Music
Cluster #3 -Ring Toss

11:30 am- 12:00 am Getting Ready for Lunch

12:00 am - 1:00 pm Lunch Time

1:00 pm- 2:00 pm After Lunch, Personal Hygiene (ie: toileting, brushing teeth, nap time, etc. ...)
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Snack Time in the Dining Room & Toileting

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm **Cluster Activities:
Cluster #1 -Art Fun
Cluster #2 -Men's Club
Cluster #3 -Basketball Toss

3:30 pm –4:00 pm * * Cluster Activities:
Cluster #1 -Sorting Time
Cluster #2 -Parachutes n' Music
Cluster #3 -Pretty Nails

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Mail Call

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Getting Ready for Dinner

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Dinner Time

6:00 pm - -7:00 pm After Dinner, Personal Hygiene (ie: toileting and/or bathing)

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Evening Activity- -Lotion applied to hands and/or feet -Listening to Music -ending with Evening Snack and to bed.

** Cluster Activities -will change daily.
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Yesterday I picked up Dad and brought him to Mom's house for the afternoon, dinner and evening. When I arrived, he was asleep in the TV room, and I woke him by calling "Dad"...he immediately smiled and said "Hello Barbara", bringing tears to my eyes. We walked back to the room, without his walker, to get his jacket, then walked to the car.

I noticed that Dad looked like he hadn't shaved for a few days, and also that his fingernails were long. Mom brought the razor to her house so he could shave there, and I mentioned the fingernails when I brought him home that night.

At Mom's house, he relaxed. Overall, he seems pretty good, and doing less "rambling" than what I recall since last Summer. He does need "direction", but is still able, with verbal prompting, to do what you say...go to the bathroom, pull up pants, eat his dinner. I put grapes and water in front of him and he went for them right away. He seemed to enjoy watching the television during the afternoon (golf), with little or no napping. We played a game of Scrabble after dinner and a couple of times he found words on his own, but then needed my prompting for putting on the board. He also kept wanting to use his "cookie" as the letter "s" on the board. After each play, he seemed to want to make another play with the remaining letters on his tray, but I would tell him it was my turn and to get more letters and then I would ask him how many more letters he needed to make 7...he would figure it and pull the right letters each time.

Today, I went over around 3pm. When I arrived, Dad was sitting in the TV room, and there was another lady cuddled up next to him, eating snacks with him I think. He got up and followed me to his room. Mom got a new TV for her bedroom (larger to help see better due to her macular degeneration), so I took her old TV to Dad's room, if not for him, but also for when he has visitors. I also attempted to organize Dad's clothing, as his closet and drawers were in a bit of disarray, and it seems there are items that don't belong to him, as well as he is missing his own items. I've added some labels, and also did an inventory that I will post in the closet with the hope that the workers will continue to follow the organization.

I met two of the workers, La Shawn and another gal whose name I can't remember! She commented on how "committed" Mom is to come every day, and loves to see the families. She trimmed Dad's nails and also helped him in the bathroom as I was organizing the closet. Dad had wet his diaper, so needed a new one, and then had a bowel movement on the toilet, for which I suggested she use a wet wipe to ensure he was cleaned up. (Is this too much information?)

Tonight I will take Mom and Dad over to Cathy's house for a football playoff party. Beau will also be there.

My overall observation is that Dad seems calm, agreeable, and responds appropriately, for the most part, to comments and statements. I haven't got into any deep conversation with him, and he doesn't join in on conversations between Mom and me. He is quiet, but content, from what I can tell.

I am here until Tuesday the 24th. Love, Barb

Thursday, January 12, 2006

There are several new people at the center. One lady there, Marie, is quite young (40) and does not seem to have too many mental problems, though she had some trouble playing Dominos. She wanted to add the points on the Dominos and then play them. I had to tell her just to match colors. Dad seemed to enjoy playing with her and he was able to explain some things to her as well.

I put together a jigsaw puzzle that depicted the world during World War II. I thought it might spark some memories. He didn't say much but seemed to enjoy watching me put it together!