Margaret
I was hoping that the New Year 2023 would bring a Covid-free time, but it didn't. Ashmead was all locked down again and Margaret confined to her room for about a week. I am sure she prefers sitting with others in the lounge so I made a special effort to visit as much as possible for as long as possible. I got an Alexa working in her room (with the helpful help of IT) and she can now listen to M4D Radio (Music for Dementia), if somebody puts it on. She definitely enjoys the 1960's stream.
Margaret has been enjoying Art with Susannah since shortly after we moved here. It used to be every week for an hour in one of the Russets houses or Sherwood on a cycle of six. Margaret went to all of them which was quite easy to organise as she was living with me then. This was her heyday and she did all sorts of amazing pictures and colourings. Then Covid stuck and that was that. Susannah then came to run Art in the Village and I would take Margaret along - she still had a little bit of ability to think for herself, but not much. Finally Susannah went back into Russets Clubhouse but for a three hour drop-in session every week. This was thought up and implemented by management without any consultation and, obviously, no thought. The 'drop-in' didn't work, an hour is quite long enough for a PWD to do anything (other than music) and it cost three times as much as before. So, after a month it has stopped and we are awaiting the next edict. Hopefully, this will be an hour on an hour and a half every two weeks in a cycle of locations. From my point of view (which is Margaret's point of view), I don't really mind as Margaret now has no ability at all to think for herself. I would only take her if Susannah is running it. I feel she was so lucky to have had the best of times with Susannah. If only she could remember ...
While walking with her, she has started to become suddenly breathless. To cut to the chase and after the doctor assessed her, we don't know why. She has to suddenly stop and rest and, a couple of times has actually sunk to the ground. Her blood pressure is fine so, maybe, she forgets to breathe, maybe she is just so unfit, maybe the air is too cold ... who knows? My solution was to get Dave look in his 'camping equipment' shed to see if he had a small portable stool he didn't require. The upshot was that he had and I now carry it every time we walk. I have used it a couple of times in anger but, mostly, I just ask her if she would like to stop and rest for a while - which seems to do the trick without using the stool.
Margaret has been enjoying Art with Susannah since shortly after we moved here. It used to be every week for an hour in one of the Russets houses or Sherwood on a cycle of six. Margaret went to all of them which was quite easy to organise as she was living with me then. This was her heyday and she did all sorts of amazing pictures and colourings. Then Covid stuck and that was that. Susannah then came to run Art in the Village and I would take Margaret along - she still had a little bit of ability to think for herself, but not much. Finally Susannah went back into Russets Clubhouse but for a three hour drop-in session every week. This was thought up and implemented by management without any consultation and, obviously, no thought. The 'drop-in' didn't work, an hour is quite long enough for a PWD to do anything (other than music) and it cost three times as much as before. So, after a month it has stopped and we are awaiting the next edict. Hopefully, this will be an hour on an hour and a half every two weeks in a cycle of locations. From my point of view (which is Margaret's point of view), I don't really mind as Margaret now has no ability at all to think for herself. I would only take her if Susannah is running it. I feel she was so lucky to have had the best of times with Susannah. If only she could remember ...
While walking with her, she has started to become suddenly breathless. To cut to the chase and after the doctor assessed her, we don't know why. She has to suddenly stop and rest and, a couple of times has actually sunk to the ground. Her blood pressure is fine so, maybe, she forgets to breathe, maybe she is just so unfit, maybe the air is too cold ... who knows? My solution was to get Dave look in his 'camping equipment' shed to see if he had a small portable stool he didn't require. The upshot was that he had and I now carry it every time we walk. I have used it a couple of times in anger but, mostly, I just ask her if she would like to stop and rest for a while - which seems to do the trick without using the stool.
Back to January tab ...