Had his neuro appt this morning. I asked the doc to let me know when the hubster qualifies for hospice. He said NOW, although he didn’t know if the hubster would be gone in 6 months. So hospice-at-home is being put in motion. And a handicap placard–i’ll have to take the hubster to the DMV on Friday (with Krystal’s help) to get him a new ID and submit the handicap placard paperwork.
Also learned that his anti-psychotic (olanzapine) CAUSES Parkinsons symptoms because it’s anti-dopamine. So his worsening Parkinson gait is due to the increase in olanzapine. What a nightmare. His gait was so bad last night, I had to take him from the den to the bedroom in a wheelchair. I couldn’t remember how to put the foot supports on (or figure it out), and he dragged his feet. oy.
Huh. The hospice people called. All I get for now is someone to visit about twice a week for an hour to bathe him if I wish. Jeepers. Also free Depends, but I have over 100 on hand at the moment, and I think they’ll pay in full for medications related to his condition, so olanzapine, sertraline, and a sleeping med (changing to clonapin(?) since trazadone doesn’t work for him).
I qualify for respite once or twice a year–5 days of him in a facility so I could visit my grandkids in NYC and my best friends in KY.
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Well, that is at least something. Though I’m a bit surprised given that normally hospice has the 6 month death window. I’m glad for you that he managed to qualify for something. Respite. An appropriate word, base on your descriptions of your tribulations. Hopefully they’ll allow him to go full-time in a facility soon.
Interesting about the Parkinson’s symptoms. I wonder if you stop the med, if they will get better, or are they permanent now.
If you have some spare Depends, feel free to send them my way! 1poormom wears “small”. We have to provide them (the AL facility doesn’t). I have some shipped from Costco every few months. She doesn’t often have need of them, but there have been “accidents”. So they put them on her.
I have a friend whose aunt was placed in hospice at the age of 99. She lived till just after her 104th birthday!
Trini
Medicare used to provide more help, but too many people abused it (defrauded Medicare). Gee thx, bad guys =8-0
Hubby wears men’s small Depends–probably larger than women’s small? Also, who knows if the briefs hospice provides are as absorbent as actual Depends brand.
If he stops olanzapine, he’ll experience more psychosis–hence the nightmare trade-off. Apparently everyone chooses Parkinsons over psychosis. Yes, the Parkinsons would get better as he would no longer be taking a dopamine agonist.
I can probably get a hospital type bed for the hubster from hospice/Medicare, but without him next to me waking me up, he’d get out of bed himself and pee on the floor. He doesn’t get me up deliberately to help him, it’s a side-effect. Guard rails won’t help–he’ll climb over them (as he did in both ERs). He’s still very strong.
I hope I can get an aide to come late Tuesday afternoons so I can go to the farmer’s market. None of my aides can come that late (I need ~3:15-4:30). Another afternoon hour would allow me to visit my mother & brother.
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I couldn’t remember how to put the foot supports on (or figure it out), and he dragged his feet. oy.
Pro tip: When that’s an issue, roll him backwards. The feet might still drag, but they don’t risk injuring him or make it impossible to move. That’s how I generally move my son around in his wheeled toilet seat. Gotta roll forward a bit coming out from over the toilet, but for as much of the transport as I can, its with him backwards because of his feet dragging.
As to the rest, glad to hear there’s at least some additional help possible. Twice a week bathing is better than no help at all. And it seems to be one of the harder things on you.
–Peter
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I asked the doc to let me know when the hubster qualifies for hospice. He said NOW, although he didn’t know if the hubster would be gone in 6 months. So hospice-at-home is being put in motion.
Wow! Progress—if you can call it that! But…it takes my breath away that you/he have reached this point. The actual added care isn’t the dramatic difference that’s really needed, but the recognition of his state, and providing some further support… And I find myself at a loss for words.
((((Alstro))))
=sheila
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I have a friend whose aunt was placed in hospice at the age of 99. She lived till just after her 104th birthday!
Love this!
=sheila
The hubster sat on the floor when it was time for dinner. I handed him his bowl and he chowed down on Balinese Shrimp–I more or less did this:
https://sunbasket.com/recipe/balinese-shrimp-with-coconut-ga…
plus stirred in fresh peas I cooked to add fiber to help DH fight constipation (he also had beans in his lunch salad).
Sun Basket has lots of good recipes.
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