Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Hospital Level Rest Home

Finally, late Friday afternoon, my hubby was discharged from the public hospital and transferred by ambulance to the new hospital level rest home.  Even this was not without incident as the lady ambulance officer was down in Whangarei from Kaitaia to pick up a patient who was coming up from Auckland.  As this patient hadn't arrived and there was a back log in Whangarei she was sent to do the transfer.

I was in the ward and left when they started to transfer M. from his bed to the "trolley".  I arrived at the Rest Home and waited over an hour and, finally, the office called the hospital to see what was happening.  It turned out that the patient had arrived from Auckland and so the ambulance officer was taken off my husbands case and headed back to Kaitaia leaving him (presumably) in the ward waiting for another ambulance.  I just hope I don't have to pay for both ambulances.

As it was quite late the main admittance forms were left for Monday.  Yesterday,  I went on the Parkinson's walk and, in spite of heavy rain in the night, we had a fine walk followed by coffee at the airport cafe .  Just as we were leaving the rain started again.  I then went to the Rest Home and after visiting completed the admittance form.  When I had first visited I asked about extra charges and was told there were none apart from supplying shampoo, toothpaste etc.  I noticed on the form an extra $5.00 a day for an en suite toilet and handbasin, when I mentioned this it was waived.  If  not  I would be paying an extra $150 a month.

Today is COLD - not sure what the temp is but I have two fires going and am still shivering.  Hoping to walk down to the home shortly if the weather holds - it is just 1.6 kms so quite a pleasant walk.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Tuesday 24th July


This is the teddy bear that Joanne commented on in my last post.  I just like the way he sits on the edge of a shelf.

Well today was going to be the day my hubby was assessed to see if he now needs Hospital Level Care. Unfortunately, he has had a red swollen knee and swollen leg for several days and, in spite of antibiotics, it has been getting worse - cellulitis.  I had asked several times whether he should be ambulanced in to the Hospital.  Finally, last night I got a call from the home at about 8.30 p.m. and they ambulanced him in.  I drove in and we waited for three hours and finally a lovely doctor came and looked at him.  They kept him in the Emergency Dept overnight and I got home at 2 a.m.

He is now on a ward and they are keeping him in at least one more night and, hopefully, he will then be able to have his assessment - it would be good if he could go straight to the new Hospital Level Rest Home straight from the hospital - I am going to see the social worker on the ward when I go in after some lunch.  I think the adrenaline is pumping around my body at a great rate at present.

Heavy mist all day and now it has got quite dark and has started to rain.  Hopefully it will pass while I have some soup and ease off for me to drive to the Hospital.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Winter Flowers





It still amazes me the variety of flowers I can pick in the garden at this time of year.

On the home front my hubby is being assessed on Tuesday but I am sure that hospital level will be the decision so I must now find a new Rest Home for him.  I just hope that there is a bed at the one that has been recommended.  Stress levels are on the rise again.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Rest Home Update 19 July

First, thank you to everyone for your support.

Yesterday there was a change of plan and I took M. in to the surgery for his Aclasta (for osteoporosis) as well as my own appointment.

They were very good and he had two nurses and doctor looking after him at one stage.  He slept through most of the process.

I got some antibiotics for my sinus/ear infection and was able to discuss the suggested re-assessment with the G.P.  He was not particularly in favour of the change but if it does go ahead he recommended another Rest Home close by and I have been in touch with them.

I have had tremendous support from the other carers in our group and one has referred me to an Anglican Rest Home Support Lady - I was at the doctors when she phoned but we will catch up at some stage and I will find out what support she can offer.

Cold here today.  There was a frost but I kept the curtains closed until it had disappeared - still the two fires have been going all day.

I visited M. to cut his hair and he had another fall in the early morning and has a swollen, hot knee.  They were waiting to hear back from the G.P.  I called in to see if I could take him to another G.P. in the practice but they were all fully booked.

I was also asked to sign a consent for them to use a restraint in the form of a belt to keep him in his chair (to stop him getting up and falling).  I did this and it will be reviewed on Monday.  They monitor him at least every 1/4 hour and walk him every 3/4 hour.  If it stops him falling it will be worth it.

I have just had a call from the Needs Assessor.  She was going to do the assessment on Tuesday but when I mentioned his swollen knee she said that must be sorted first so that she can do an assessment of his mobility.  I should hear from her again tomorrow.

I do feel happier about it now although it all depends on what Rest Home has a vacancy when the assessment has been done.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Hospital Level Care

I have not visited my hubby for about ten days now because of my cough/cold (man-flu).  During this time he has been having a lot more falls and my main fear has been that the home would want him re-assessed as needing a higher level of care.

Today, I finally made an appointment for myself at the G.P. for tomorrow as I think I also have a sinus infection which would explain why I still feel so rotten.  I have also made a tentative appointment for me to take hubby in for his Aclasta infusion for his osteoporosis on Thursday.  I think this is especially important in view of his constant falling.

I had made the appointments and then got the dreaded call from the Rest Home that they have requested a re-assessment.  This most likely means that I will have to transfer him to somewhere with hospital level care.  The home he is at is getting that in about 18 months time - too late for him.

I have been making enquiries today to find out what the different homes with hospital level are like.  I could do without this, especially as he seems to be finally getting settled.

I am pleased I have the G.P. appointment though as I will be able to discuss it with him.  I don't really feel up to all this.  Perhaps I will wake in the morning and find it has all been a bad dream and the status quo reigns.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Gluten Free Apple Crumble

Recently several bloggers have been talking about apple crumble.  With the inclement weather we are having my mouth was watering at the thought.

I googled "Gluten Free Apple Crumble" and then decided to adapt my "normal" recipe.

I rubbed 64g. of butter into 1/4 cup GF flour
                                          1/8 cup almond meal
                                          1/8 cup quinoa flakes
                                           & a pinch of salt

I then added                        1/2 cup oats
                                            1/4 cup raw sugar (the recipe says 1/2 cup but I prefer less sugar) and rubbed that in

I sliced three braeburn apples and sprinkled them with some frozen blueberries that needed using up and just under a cup of water.

I then sprinkled the topping on and cooked at 180 degrees C until it looked ready.

It was DELICIOUS, in fact I think it was better than the regular one.  I dished up a reasonable serve but then went back for seconds - well there is just me to eat it.


Saturday, July 14, 2012

More Firewood

Looking back in my blog I see it was February when I bought 2 cubic metres of firewood.  I still had some left over from last year and thought that would be enough to last the winter.  The gentleman that I bought the firewood from had a massive heart attack while cutting a tree down and died instantly, not long after my purchase.

I realised my supply is getting down and so, when I saw some being delivered just around the corner, I asked where it came from and phoned the chap up last night.  This morning at 8.30 I had 2 cubic metres of totara delivered.  Some of it is a bit damp but, generally, I am pleased with it.  I have moved the last of the previous load into the garage and started with an empty space.



I should have taken a photo of the wood pile before I started moving it but was so keen to get started I didn't think of it until I had most of it stacked.


Just after 1 o'clock and I, finally, had it all moved and stacked, I did have a break for a coffee to rest my back..  This is the main stack in the porch.


This is some of the excess smaller pieces.                   

The wetter pieces I stacked here in a particularly dry area.
The neighbour's tree shelters it.


I then covered the outside stack as we have rain forecast for tomorrow.  (NOTE to self - must try and find some dark green tarpaulins).

There was some extra which I stacked in the garage.  

Still can't get rid of this cold/cough/sinus so have not been able to see hubby for over a week as they don't want my bugs in the rest home.  Unfortunately, he has had lots of falls during this time, one of which bruised his face quite badly.  I have lost count of the number of falls but I think it is over 14.

Now I just hope this lasts me through the winter.  I also have the load that was delivered last month cut short for the pot belly stove.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Thought for the day

Following on from yesterday's post I have often wondered if all the money in the world was divided among the population evenly how long it would take for it to return to the status quo.

Whether by foul means or fair I am sure it would not be long before things started to change.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Proposed letter to Mr. Cameron

I received an email with this proposed letter in it this morning.  Food for thought!!!  It could apply to any country.  (I think it has been doing the rounds for some time).

Dear Mr Cameron,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing the UK 's economy.

Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them £1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Ten million job openings - Unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new British car. Ten million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed

4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university - Crime rate fixed

5) They MUST buy £100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week - There's your money back in duty/tax etc

It can't get any easier than that!

If more money is needed, have all Members of Parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances

If you think this would work, please forward to everyone you know.

Also..... Put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home.

This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.

They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.

Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens.

Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week.
 Live in a tiny room and pay £600.00 per week and have no hope of ever getting out.




Monday, July 9, 2012

Monday 9th July 2012

On May 30th I posted that I had started to clear the ladder fern from the larger of our stone retaining walls and posted the following photo




Last week I pulled the last of the plants out and disposed of them - not good for the shoulder but it is looking better.  I now have a lot of roots to remove and will put some more plants in the bed above the wall.



Of course, there is always "help" when one goes out in the garden.  This photo was taken quite late in the day hence the low sun.

I have done some more walks.  The Parkinson group went back to the Onerahi Airport but walked on the lower road alongside the water.  I went up Parihaka again on Saturday but it was a much harder track and I can still feel the muscles on my legs.  (no camera this time but next time I will take it as it was lovely bush.

I joined the local Senior Net on Thursday and met a former neighbour from Awanui who moved away 19 years ago.  A lot of catching up to do.

My lovely hubby has been having more falls (two yesterday)  he seems to be agitated and won't sit still and forgets his walker.  He is due to have his Aclasta for osteoporosis but as I have gone down with a nasty cold/sinus infection I am keeping away from the Rest Home at present.

It was very cold again this morning (a friend just told me her thermometer registered -1 C in her roof area).  I have spent most of the day in bed and missed two meetings I had planned on attending.  Still I had some delicious vegetable soup that I made yesterday and am starting to feel a little better.