Things Going Better Than I Hoped

When I call Pioneer Home in Anchorage, it appears that things are going well for Mom.  Each time they tell me that she is sweet, easy to care for, and alert.  They have her using a walker so when her dementia advances beyond a certain point (where she can't learn anything new), she will already be used to using it.  They told me it will give her more freedom as things progress and she will not need to go to a wheel chair as quickly.

She has a lovely room now, one that looks out toward Delaney Park and every time I call, she sounds upbeat and chipper.  She did have an incident when her oxygen saturation in her blood dropped to 82.  She is prescribed to receive oxygen any time it drops below 88.  She is going in next week for Pulmonary Function Tests, which test the tidal volume, vital capacity, inspiratory capacity, expiratory reserve.  She has failed these tests in the past, necessitating oxygen supplementation 24 x 7.  I am very interested to see what comes of her tests.

They consider her frail, but she eats well and sleeps well.  They say she tires after walking all morning, but she definitely uses the walker to its maximum and prefers to walk over sitting for long periods.  Her care coordinator now has what she needs to set her up for Hearts and Hands, a program she can attend two to three times a week to get outside the building and also participate in a broader range of activities than what are offered at her home.

I don't know when I can see her again.  Since Gary canceled his surgery, plans to go in April are gone.  It is likely we will be through Anchorage in May when Dad is here, at least.