Friday, October 16, 2015 Last Friday was the day I had to go to the funeral home to sign some forms. I decided to take Marty with me so I could give him a few little walks and I wanted to stop by the Wilbraham Library on my way home to ask about having Kathy’s celebration there. The funeral home… Read more →
Tag: Mercy Hospice
Wednesday and Thursday: Goodbye
It has been over a week since Kathy passed away. I marked the actual time by having a glass of her wine out on our deck with Marty, my basset sitting on my feet. Don’t worry it was a small glass of wine. Marty and I had just finished mowing the leaves. Again. The leaves seem to keep falling whether… Read more →
The final decline
CAREGIVING: This is really a post about the week or so before Kathy passed away. I’m writing so I can remember. I need to go a few steps backward. Then maybe I can move forward. The indications were all there. Kathy was starting to have digestion issues again. Besides having diarrhea, she was regurgitating food. She wasn’t vomiting but when… Read more →
House Call: Back from the Hospital
CAREGIVING: Last Thursday my main task was to get Kathy back on hospice again. Because she went to the hospital for a procedure to “extend her life” – the feeding tube – she had to be discharged from Mercy Hospice. Now that she was back home she could be readmitted to hospice. I had called the hospice to let them… Read more →
Wednesday in the ER
CAREGIVING: Last Wednesday started out kind of normal. Louise arrived to help wash Kathy and help me change her. Since she arrives at 10 am on Wednesdays, that gives me a chance to give her her medicine and clean her teeth. And to take a shower, myself. Kathy’s nights have been restful since the last scare. It was probably a… Read more →
Getting recertified for hospice
CAREGIVING: Recertification is one of those things that I am glad I can worry about it. Kathy is doing well enough that she needs to be recertified to continue with hospice care. Medicare pays for hospice, but the general rule of thumb is that since it is end of life, comfort care it is restricted. In other words they want to make… Read more →
The Nurse, the Donkey and the Bereavement Counsellor
CAREGIVING: Our hospice nurse came for one of her visits on Friday. Kathy checked out fine: blood pressure; oxygen with that finger clamp thingie; and her lungs sounded clear. I told her I was starting to give her tastes of food and drink. She thought that was fine as long as I am careful. I also told her I was thinking of cutting… Read more →