An Outing For Margaret

The last week has been a mixed one for Margaret.  She started by being moved to a new room which, unfortunately is back in the High Care Dementia Wing.  The room itself is very nice and is a single room where she will probably stay.  This has meant that we were able to move in a few personal items such as her own TV and DVD player.  She has room for another armchair which makes it more comfortable for us as we usually use the wheely walker or wheelchair to sit on.

Her mobility appears to have decreased and she has to be helped in and out of her bed or big armchair.  She rarely uses her wheely walker as the carers prefer her to use her wheelchair.  More alarmingly her feet and legs have become incredibly swollen and fluid is also collecting around her lower abdomen.  She gets very short of breath following even light activity.

Notwithstanding all this she is much more settled.  She still grumbles about the home, her carers, me and of course Helen but she appears to accept that this is where she lives.  We have taken Louis in to see the new room which cheered her up.  One noticeable thing is her lack of concentration.  We have tried to get her to watch TV or a DVD with us and the carers also help her to select her favourite programs but she loses interest after 10 minutes or so and wants it switched off.  She spends most os the time just sitting and dozing in her chair.

Helen has visited everyday but I have decided to visit on Tuesday,  Thursday, Saturday and Sunday which gives me three full days a week for my own activities.  This has been recommended by Margaret's GP and the carers who tell me that she is much more settled.  I don't know what she will do after today as Helen flies home early tomorrow morning.  We shall see.

Yesterday was Margaret's seventy fourth birthday which she had forgotten.  We took in cards, flowers and some small gifts.  We suggested that she might like to go out to lunch which she wanted to do.  We decided to try the bus to our local shopping mall, Noosa Civic,  where we hoped to get lunch at the bistro located there.  The carers got her into her wheelchair and loaned us the lifting belt in case Margaret had to go to the toilet while she was out.  Civic has great disabled toilets and we would be able to take the wheelchair in to them and using the belt transfer her to the toilet and back.

We caught one of the small buses to Civic.  The driver put down the ramp and I was able to wheel Margaret straight into a wheelchair space by the door.  Unfortunately I had her facing backwards and she grumbled all the way to Civic which was only a ten minute ride.  I sat behind her and held the chair steady. 

At civic we found the bistro closed so went and got lunch at the Coffee Club.  Margaret had "all day breakfast",  I had a beefburger and Helen Calamari.  The Coffee Club is not licensed so we drank tea and coffee.  We cut up Margaret's food for her and had to feed her her fried eggs as she doesn't have the motor skills to use her fork with slippery things.  She just used her fingers to eat her bacon and actually ate a full meal for the first time in months.  She enjoyed watching the other shoppers walk by while we ate.

Afterwards we toured the shops and bought her a new skirt,  her trousers are too difficult to manage.  We also bought a bottle of wine to celebrate her birthday back at the home.  We caught a much bigger bus home and I set her up facing forward which she preferred.  Helen sat behind her steadying the chair.

Back at the home we all had a drink of Chardonnay which Margaret had chosen.  The carers settled Margaret back in her chair and we left her sipping on anther glass of wine when we left.  She was very tired and her feet had swollen even more while she was out but she was very happy.

Helen and I were both so happy that we now know that, while her health holds out, I can take Margaret for brief shopping or lunch trips using the bus.  The drivers were terrific and helped me with the chair.

Helen is making her final visit to Margaret today before she goes home tomorrow.

Helen helping margaret with her lunch

Margaret watching the other shoppers walk by.

A satisfied Helen

Margaret on the bus being steadied by Helen

Helen and Margaret enjoying their Chardonnay while admiring Margaret's flowers.