Margaret in May
Update May 30th.
Update May 23rd.
Restrictions have been lifted in the Care Home - not quite completely. Yesterday I took Margaret out for walk in the enclosed gardens by the Club House. The grass has been cut but the whole place looks decidedly unloved. Then we walked further on outside and around the site and sat here and there - I had a swing - I'd forgotten what exercise it is - knackered. We have instituted 'No Mow May' which I like but others think it the grass should all be manicured.
Today I was able to take Margaret to Art in the Activities Room with Susannah. This is the first time since January. My, she has deteriorated. It took lots of encouragement to get her to concentrate on painting at all. Strangely, whereas before, she would fill in a block of colour, now she mainly just paints along the border. It took around 1¼ hours to do what you see in the picture. Still she seemed to enjoy it all and gabbled on the whole time. I hope we are not too disruptive for the other artists. Her back is obviously giving her some gyp, but I don't think it hurts. It is a distraction and needs rubbing now and again!
Restrictions have been lifted in the Care Home - not quite completely. Yesterday I took Margaret out for walk in the enclosed gardens by the Club House. The grass has been cut but the whole place looks decidedly unloved. Then we walked further on outside and around the site and sat here and there - I had a swing - I'd forgotten what exercise it is - knackered. We have instituted 'No Mow May' which I like but others think it the grass should all be manicured.
Today I was able to take Margaret to Art in the Activities Room with Susannah. This is the first time since January. My, she has deteriorated. It took lots of encouragement to get her to concentrate on painting at all. Strangely, whereas before, she would fill in a block of colour, now she mainly just paints along the border. It took around 1¼ hours to do what you see in the picture. Still she seemed to enjoy it all and gabbled on the whole time. I hope we are not too disruptive for the other artists. Her back is obviously giving her some gyp, but I don't think it hurts. It is a distraction and needs rubbing now and again!
Update May 19th.
I collected Margaret at 10:30 from Ashmead on a lovely sunny morning. We were picked up by Belinda and driven to Weston Hospital. A successful and relatively easy time with Margaret being co-operative, relaxed and very good! Repeats of the two X-rays were taken. Lots of cajoling of Margaret to remain lying down and still. As before, standing had to be abandoned. The assessment was that a) she hasn't changed in the last couple of weeks, b) this (wedge vertebrae) is something common in someone of her age, c) surgery is a non-starter (thank goodness) and, d) she should be treated for osteoporosis. No revisit to hospital necessary (thank goodness).
Belinda's help and presence turned a difficult day into an easy one and I am very thankful. In fact, thankful, enough to take her to the pub tomorrow for lunch (in the rain-storms)!!
On Wednesday, I took Margaret out for a walk (woof, woof) and it was slightly better than last time in that we walked a bit further and didn't stop quite as frequently. It isn't clear why she stops. It seems to be to rest her back but she gives no indication of, even, slight pain.
There is (nearly) good news on visiting the Care Home. It looks as though the restrictions will be lifted tomorrow though there are some conditions yet to be declared. We shall see. This means that the Club House might be able to reopen properly.
I collected Margaret at 10:30 from Ashmead on a lovely sunny morning. We were picked up by Belinda and driven to Weston Hospital. A successful and relatively easy time with Margaret being co-operative, relaxed and very good! Repeats of the two X-rays were taken. Lots of cajoling of Margaret to remain lying down and still. As before, standing had to be abandoned. The assessment was that a) she hasn't changed in the last couple of weeks, b) this (wedge vertebrae) is something common in someone of her age, c) surgery is a non-starter (thank goodness) and, d) she should be treated for osteoporosis. No revisit to hospital necessary (thank goodness).
Belinda's help and presence turned a difficult day into an easy one and I am very thankful. In fact, thankful, enough to take her to the pub tomorrow for lunch (in the rain-storms)!!
On Wednesday, I took Margaret out for a walk (woof, woof) and it was slightly better than last time in that we walked a bit further and didn't stop quite as frequently. It isn't clear why she stops. It seems to be to rest her back but she gives no indication of, even, slight pain.
There is (nearly) good news on visiting the Care Home. It looks as though the restrictions will be lifted tomorrow though there are some conditions yet to be declared. We shall see. This means that the Club House might be able to reopen properly.
I have already cheated by putting an entry for Margaret for 'May' in 'April'! This follows on from that April entry as there is so much interest - thank you.
On Sunday May 8th, which was a beautiful day here at Sandford, I went to Ashmead at 6:30pm with the intention of reading to Margaret in her room, which is what I do. But it was so lovely, I took her out in the garden. The Dementia Unit (The Russets) is a sort-of circle of five Apple-named houses. Ashmead, Bramley, Crispin, Discovery and Encore. Within each house there are 15 Residents - actually 13 in Encore. The houses are in a 'circle' so they are all interlinked and no resident can arrive at a dead-end. Prior to Covid, the general plan was to open the interconnecting doors at around 10am every day and then, those residents who liked to wander, could wander and at will. Since Covid, with lockdowns, those interlinking doors have remained shut. In the centre of the 'circle' are gardens and in the centre of the gardens there is a Club House which is a gorgeous place for bringing together Residents (of both Russets and Sherwood, the Nursing Home), the dedicated St Monica Entertainers (Wayne & James), the Carers, the Volunteers, the Friends and Relatives of the Residents (and their dogs) and Residents from The Village (such as Margaret & I were when we first moved to Sandford Station). The actual entertainment could be 'in house' or from visiting performers.
So, now, you have a picture of the set-up?
On Sunday May 8th, which was a beautiful day here at Sandford, I went to Ashmead at 6:30pm with the intention of reading to Margaret in her room, which is what I do. But it was so lovely, I took her out in the garden. The Dementia Unit (The Russets) is a sort-of circle of five Apple-named houses. Ashmead, Bramley, Crispin, Discovery and Encore. Within each house there are 15 Residents - actually 13 in Encore. The houses are in a 'circle' so they are all interlinked and no resident can arrive at a dead-end. Prior to Covid, the general plan was to open the interconnecting doors at around 10am every day and then, those residents who liked to wander, could wander and at will. Since Covid, with lockdowns, those interlinking doors have remained shut. In the centre of the 'circle' are gardens and in the centre of the gardens there is a Club House which is a gorgeous place for bringing together Residents (of both Russets and Sherwood, the Nursing Home), the dedicated St Monica Entertainers (Wayne & James), the Carers, the Volunteers, the Friends and Relatives of the Residents (and their dogs) and Residents from The Village (such as Margaret & I were when we first moved to Sandford Station). The actual entertainment could be 'in house' or from visiting performers.
So, now, you have a picture of the set-up?
I have not been in the garden (as far as I can recall) since 2019, though I have passed rapidly through it a couple of times to visit Margaret in a Pod built in the Club House. The Pods were awful - frightening for Margaret and had a plastic screen through which to attempt to communicate - something I couldn't do with my lack-of hearing. I tried twice and gave up as it upset both of us.
I was really surprised to see that the gardens look, to me, tatty. But what do I know? There are five hens (The Colonel*, Fluffy Bum, and the Three Degrees) which have arrived, though I'm not sure if there is a purpose. *I think?
Margaret and I had a good time wandering round and sitting here and there. She was cheerful. We saw lovely (carer) Tracey who held The Colonel so Margaret could stroke him - something she was surprisingly reluctant to do. I, as best as I could, tested Margaret for pain and concluded that she wasn't in any - her paracetamol prescription has been increased. I was very conscious of getting her to stand up slowly. Even then she was a bit wobbly and had to rest for a few moments. I have aloo noticed that she shakes a little bit now and again. She chatted away about this and that and assessed every flower in detail. So, all-in-all, a successful visit.
There is now a Covid memorial tree - Sorbus 'Sunshine' - A Yellow Berried Roman.
I was really surprised to see that the gardens look, to me, tatty. But what do I know? There are five hens (The Colonel*, Fluffy Bum, and the Three Degrees) which have arrived, though I'm not sure if there is a purpose. *I think?
Margaret and I had a good time wandering round and sitting here and there. She was cheerful. We saw lovely (carer) Tracey who held The Colonel so Margaret could stroke him - something she was surprisingly reluctant to do. I, as best as I could, tested Margaret for pain and concluded that she wasn't in any - her paracetamol prescription has been increased. I was very conscious of getting her to stand up slowly. Even then she was a bit wobbly and had to rest for a few moments. I have aloo noticed that she shakes a little bit now and again. She chatted away about this and that and assessed every flower in detail. So, all-in-all, a successful visit.
There is now a Covid memorial tree - Sorbus 'Sunshine' - A Yellow Berried Roman.
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