JOURNAL ENTRY 91: Back in Daytona Beach

I got back here Friday afternoon.  Mom was behaving strangely again.  From the time I left a couple of weeks ago actually.  However, she picked up what I believe is a sinus infection earlier on during the week .  I say sinus infection because it had her usual signs:  sneeze, runny nose, dry cough, cough.  Of course Mom started sleeping more during the day, something she does when she is fighting an infection.  I thought using the nasal spray and taking Zyrtec would help but it was too late.  Then the dementia started kicking in.   I thought it was from the sinus infection but it was from another urinary tract infection.  Wednesday and Thursday nights she gave the home attendant a hard time at night going to bed.  Friday she went to the bathroom and couldn't get up so the EMS was called.

Even though I am in New York I was in the loop the entire time.  Good thing because Mom got to Halifax Hospital and put on a performance.  She wouldn't let them give her the IV..  I was on the phone with my cousin and I heard her screaming.  Eventually one of the home attendants got there and managed to get her to put the IV in.

Sidebar:  It was always hard for nurses to get blood from my mother so they would repeatedly stick her.  Now, at 89 she has a morbid fear of needles and will fight you tooth and nail.

Like I said I arrived the day after she got to the hospital.  She still has mild to moderate dementia, but I am not sure if this is because of the infections or if it is the beginning of a different issue.  She has not been fully cooperative though and her mind come and goes.  I have been at Halifax Hospital from about 2:00 Friday afternoon and it is now 8:00 Sunday morning.

When you deal with an elderly parent and especially one with possible cognitive issues it is important for somebody familiar to be there with her.  For example, my mother doesn't hear very well and she doesn't see that well.  This is in addition to the possible dementia she may be suffering from.  She will not take some medication unless you explain it the way she understands it.  For example the doctor wanted to give her the thyroid medication (I can't remember the long name of it) and she didn't want to take it because she is not fond of taking medications.  I had to tell her that it is the little pill she takes in the morning.  That helped.  I am dreading when they will have to change the IV though.