Howard Update 9/16

By Kevin

Katie and I visited my Dad today (Sunday). Margaret had things to do at home. We arrived around noon with sandwiches, grapes (some of Dad's favorites), and Oreos from the nearby Safeway to have lunch and watch the 49er game. I told him I had something from Margaret and gave him a hug she asked me to give him. I took the grapes off the vines and put them in a bowl since with only one hand, it's difficult for Dad to take them off the vines.

His right hand is still swollen, but not as much as it was. He doesn't keep it up above his heart, as the doctors asked. He either keeps it on the chair's arm rest, or sometimes hangs it down. He still has the foam cushion to use to keep his hand up.

I checked Dad's pills and he had taken AM&PM for Friday and Saturday, but PM for Sunday (should have just been AM). He said that he took out both AM&PM pills, saw he had an extra big pill (antacid), so he put the big pill back (but in the AM not PM).

Dad showed me an extra book that Karen and Fiona sent him, so I took it as Karen asked.

Dad still had leftovers from Friday night (I took him to Christopher's) and he said he would have them for dinner tonight. I also noticed on Friday that he had some packages from Meals on Wheels, so the social worker was able to sign him up. He said they come around lunch time and bring lunch.

He had a lot of other leftovers (pizza, sandwiches, etc.), but I couldn't tell how old they were. We're going to have Post-It notes to identify the dates as much as we can. He only ate half his sandwich so I put the other half in the refrigerator.

The 49er game was exciting, and it wasn't clear who would win until the final seconds.

Katie and I left after the game, and Dad said he appreciated us coming to visit.

Howard Update 9/1

* post by Margaret *

Howard is doing well, and has been able to stay at his house.   We are getting services for him, and it is giving him a busy schedule!   As of today, he has the following coming by at least once per week (some twice per week) - skilled nursing, physical therapist, occupational therapist, social worker, and home health care.   The home health care will help with bathing, food prep, housework, and also will be able to take him to appointments.  Kaiser now comes to his house for monthly coumidin blood draws, so he does not need to go out for that.   We have made sure he has the time available for coffee with his friends. He is in good spirits, and seems to okay with it all.  He does have moments where he is not remembering some facts, but otherwise is doing well. 

We were all (Pat, Karen, Kevin and I) over today to spend the day with him, and also to solidify the home health care details.    We all went to lunch, then went to Bed Bath and Beyond to get some items for his shower to make it more secure for him.    Karen did the laundry and the dishes.   I cleaned the bathroom.

As this is the Labor Day weekend and we have Monday off, he has come back down to Milpitas until Monday.  We are just going to relax and have a nice visit. 

We have agreed that we will trade off weekends of visiting and checking in on him, take him grocery shopping, out for a meal, etc.