What a night!

What a night last night! Initially, things went as scheduled. Picked up the boys from the bus, got them fed and we were out of the door by 5:10pm. I dropped Neil and Dominic at basketball practice. John and I went to the grocery store. Then I dropped John at the library while I ran the groceries home. I was back at the library by 6:00pm. At 6:30pm I took John up to the high school for pep band and then headed back to the elementary school to get the boys from basketball practice. Practiced ended at 7:00pm and we headed back to the high school since John said he would be done at about 7:15pm. I checked my phone at almost 7:30pm and saw a message from John – they were running a little late. Finally he came out at 7:45pm and we were on our way home.

We walked in the door about 8:00pm. I noticed the light flashing on the answering machine. It was Willow Pointe. Apparently Mom had taken a fall. The first thing I did was to mention to Steve that he needs to check the answering machine when he gets home. His excuse was that he had just gotten home. He never checks it. I am the only one. I called Willow Pointe and the Hospice nurse had been there about 20 minutes and had determined Mom was going to need stitches. I talked briefly with Hospice nurse and it was decided that it would be a good idea for me to come down since I have Power of Attorney. Steve is offering to drive me down. I looked around the house and said “Someone needs to be here for the boys.” So off to the Stoughton Hospital I went at about 8:20pm.

It had been mentioned to me that Danita was there visiting Mom also. My first thought was “Why is Danita visiting at around 7:30pm?” Apparently that’s where she hangs out during or after Ryan’s basketball practice.

From the initial phone conversation and conversations afterwards this is what happened. One of the aides was with a resident on the A side of Willow Pointe. The other aide was on the B side, where Mom was. However the aide went to the bathroom. During this time Mom fell out of her chair. She must have been leaning or reaching forwards and out she went, hitting her forehead on the hardwood floor. At the same time Danita arrived, entered through the A side, walked over where Mom was and found her on the floor in a “huge pool of blood” (yes, head wounds do bleed a lot.) By that time the aide was out of the bathroom and everyone began to take action.

On my drive down, my younger brother calls my cell phone. I didn’t hear the phone ring, but saw it light up. I called him back and asked why he was calling. “Because Mom is going to the hospital.” He had no idea why Mom was going to the hospital. I commented about Danita not telling him – he said he was working at Home Depot and was in a dead area but thought he needed to leave since Mom was going to the hospital. I told him Mom fell, had a gash on her forehead requiring stitches and that’s all it was. He repeats that he’s on his way to the hospital – sort of like he’ll take care of everything. I have to tell him I’m halfway there – he says I wouldn’t have to go – I tell him I have Power of Attorney, I need to be there. That shut him up!

I got to the hospital about 9:00pm and of course Danita was there holding Mom’s hand and the Hospice nurse was right there too. Mom had already gotten 5 stitches and the ambulance transport was on its way to take Mom back to Willow Point. Steve showed up about 5 minutes after I did and immediately puts his face right into Mom’s face and starts this baby-talk about what’s happened. That really frustrates me. I signed some papers, etc. Mom was home by 10:00pm.

I had a good conversation with the Hospice nurse (and with the ER nurse for a bit also). First I asked if there are any other wheelchair options where Mom wouldn’t tend to fall out, since a belt is considered restrainment. Mom has fallen backwards, forwards, and even sideways by leaning, reaching, even hopping out of the wheelchair. Neither nurse seemed to have suggestions for that. Another point of conversation was Mom’s agitation. She was very agitated, looping her nonsense words and slapping her right hand constantly. The Hospice nurse suggested Lorazepam (brand name Ativan) which I have heard mentioned before. Mom’s regular doctor is reluctant to prescribe anything like that. The Hospice nurse is going to discuss her observations with the Hospice doctor today. We’ll see what comes of that.

I got home last night at 11:00pm. I got to work this morning at 7:30am. It’s going to be a long day.