An Update

Hi, All,
My time is becoming more and more limited since I've returned to school so my updates will probably be mostly on weekends, unless, of course, there are significant changes!

Mom started off this week on a negative note - on Monday, she tried to give Petra a check and told her once again not to come back as she didn't need her. Debbie and I decided to check out Desert Springs, an Alzheimer's facility on the West side of El Paso. Very nice place, and we liked what we saw. However, it's private and cost $3,600. per month - and they do not accept medicare or medicaid. Debbie says she will check out other facilities in Las Cruces as there are many more Alzheimer's facilities there than in El Paso. Ralph and I had dinner (Debbie's crab cakes were wonderful!) at Pat and Debbie's that evening and decided we need to wait and keep trying to get Mom to accept Petra as that is the best option for her at this time. However, we know that "down the road", she will be needing more intensive care as her illness progresses. The GOOD NEWS is the rest of the week went better insofar as Mom seems to be accepting Petra more now than at the beginning. We also think her meds are kicking in as it's been over a month now that we know she is taking them regularly (esp. the Exelon for her Alzheimer's). It's very likely that we will need to increase Petra's hours so that she is with Mom for most of the day. What you all need to know is Mom had not been bathing regularly, had not been changing her Exelon patch (she is now taking capsules as the patches irritated her skin), not eating regularly, making herself sick, and not taking care of herself nor the house. This is why we need someone to care for her. Most of this is due to her diagnosed illness (i.e. dementia and Alzheimer's). She has an appt with Dr. Crouse (her neurologist) on Sept. 12 in the morning. Debbie and Ralph will be taking her.

Please make efforts to contact and talk to Dad as his morale has been low since Mom's mental faculties continue to spiral downward. At times, she has hung up on him, saying she was too sick to talk to him. She is now on Nexium and this seems to be helping alleviate her "upset stomach" episodes considerably. In fact, her overall demeanor was much improved during this week (after the Monday episode).

Gotta get ready for church - may edit this later in the day after I see Mom and Dad today.

Postscript: Dad is not doing well. He in once again having trouble finishing a sentence and is becoming incoherent once again. He is now up to 5 liters of oxygen. His balance is also diminishing. We did pick him up and it took both of us to get him to the car and into the house. We'll be going a bit later to help him to the table so they can have lunch together. His next appt. with his primary care doctor is September 12 in the afternoon. Not sure yet who will be taking him there. Sorry the news regarding Dad is not so good...