Howard Update 1/16

by Kevin

Yesterday (Tuesday), Pat, Karen, and I moved things from the house to Dad's temporary room at El Cerrito Royale ("Royale") in the morning. Dad's 3rd floor room with a view of the hills, balcony, and close to the elevator, will be ready later this month after remodeling. Dad chose to have a hospital bed, so Kaiser delivered on Monday night.

We moved his dresser, and all the framed photos on top (Pat took a picture of them so we had them arranged the same way at Royale). We also moved his recliner, TV, side table, table for the TV, a folding table for reading or snacks (or breakfast of cereal), a dining room chair for the table, a chair to use on the balcony, etc. I'm glad Karen was with us since she remembered things like a table cloth, and a set of dishes and utensils.

Pat and I picked up Dad at Kaiser Richmond in the late morning, and drove him to Royale. Kaiser lost his shoes and medical alert pendant, so we're going to follow-up on that.

He was glad to leave Kaiser, but instead of wanting lunch, he decided to take a nap in his room after putting on a fresh set of clothes.

While he napped we went for lunch, Starbucks, and Pat bought a cable to connect his TV (when that didn't work, Pat bought a digital antenna for the TV, and set it up with several channels). Dad asked if there were any football games on, and we told him there weren't that day. Karen took his medication to the dispensary at Royale, so they will make sure he's getting his medication.

We haven't heard when the palliative care person from Kaiser will visit, but we hope that goes well.

Dad said he thought we did a great job setting up is room, and that he thinks he can hire us out!

Since it was about dinner time, Dad decided to go down to the dining room to have dinner. He was a little unsteady after getting up from his recliner, so I suggested he take his walker. On the way there, he saw several other people with walkers, so hopefully he won't feel strange using a walker, and will use it more. In the dining room he saw a friend from church, who was happy to see him. We left shortly after.

Howard Update 1/13

By Kevin

I took Dad to Kaiser emergency Thursday afternoon since he had mentioned back pain that started on Tuesday, but he hadn't gone to Kaiser. When he was asked at emergency why he was there, he said he had chest pain, which is not what he had described before. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

Due to the chest pain, he had a chest x-ray which showed a possible tumor in his lungs. Dad decided not to have any more tests or procedures. If it is a tumor, he has 6 months to a year. He may be able to leave the hospital on Monday, after learning about palliative care that Kaiser will provide. But since he will need someone around 24 hours a day, and we're still working on getting him into El Cerrito Royale, he may be discharged on Tuesday. He said he wanted to go to El Cerrito Royale, and we thought it would be a very good place for him. Pat and I will move his important furniture (bed, dresser, lounge chair, and TV) to a temporary room reserved for him before the staff will move him to a remodeled 3rd floor room not far from the elevator, and with a view of the El Cerrito hills.

Dad said he wanted a place that would cook meals for him, and that could take care of him if he fell. We are looking forward to Dad being at a place where he can get the care he needs, and at a place he likes. We will let you know his new phone number when we have it.