Time to Monitor Some Behavior....

So, this week we begin doing some monitoring on Mom.

What does this mean?   It means we (the staff at St. Anthony's with some input from me) will be making some notations on behaviors, as well as attempting to have Mom begin renewing her basic activities.

Here are the four points we are targeting:

1)  Sleeping.

     Mom will be checked hourly to see how she's doing sleep-wise.  If she's sleeping too much during the day or if she's having restless night sleep.

  This is to determine what's happening with her at night while answering the questions about her behavior over the weekend (not willing to dress or go out of her room due to being so tired).   The catch to this is whether or not the staff monitoring her wakes her by simply opening the door.   
    We will take in the information next week and make some determinations. 

2)  Exercise.

      Mom will be strongly urged to have some form of exercise on a daily basis with her exercise nurse.  Even if this means using her dinner wine as bait.

Mom really needs more exercise.  This could alleviate the lethargy and, perhaps, the edema she's been suffering from of late.  The wine is a treat, not an entitlement so there's no actual punitive endeavor there.   It may have many more benefits.  We will see where we are in a week. 

3)  Edema.

   Mom must be elevating her legs and wearing her compression stockings on a daily basis.  For some reason, which has been quite unclear, she seems to not have them on - and it may well be that she takes them off herself.  She's naughty that way.
    However, the swelling was too much last Monday, and it continues, although we've gone through this before.  We'll be checking on this with regularity.

  Edema can be a sign of kidney failure, liver failure, as well as be a lead up to congestive heart failure.  The stockings work to force the blood of her vascular system to move and be more effective and efficient - thereby increasing the blood flow. 

4)  Bathing.

   Arrrrrrg!  I've read so many articles and blogs about dealing with the unwillingness to bathe.  To be honest, I believe it's a control button.    While Mom is still garbed in her new togs, we aren't sure when she last bathed.  We may have to use something as bait (such as wine, again).  We'll be watching the progress and see what methods work this week.  Maybe we can bribe with chocolates....
   Not bathing may not only be a rather filthy and smelly affair, but it can lead to some other problems which I'd rather not speak of here.  Let's just say it's not only uncivilized, but something a woman of Mother's purport shouldn't be omitting. 

Well, on another note, she may be having her hair done this week, as well as a mani-pedi (that's manicure/pedicure for those unsure).  That may make quite a difference in her affect.  Next week should bring some data we can use or dump.

Stay Tuned!