Alma is gone

Feb25, Alma then Kay report

Finding Alma

February 18: Find Alma



Kay's new doll

Kay is sick

October 17
kay is sick

October 16. Kay and Alma

October 16, Kay's visit.

October 2 Calm returs to dining room

October 2, 2015

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September 17 Kay

Alma has problems

 Nothing was going on at Cascade Gardes as it was Sunday.  But I have never seen it so dead.  I didn't see one care giver on the floor.  the residents were either in their room, TV room, or Dining room.  I went to Kay in her room and later took her downstairs to see the coming and going.  Then back up stairs to her room until time to go. Of course I gave her some treats and she seemed to be hungry.

After getting back home and I went down to lunch I found Alma already at the table but it seems in considerable discomfort.  She said   her stomach was upset.  A care giver was sitting by her waiting for the Medics to arrive as they were already called.  I assumed that her daughter had already been called. The medics came shortly and  started trying to get some information from her.  She told them she had upset stomach.  They inquired as they could and recommended she go to the hospital.  She could not decide so I told her she should really go to the hospital and get checked out.  The firemen immediately started getting ready to take her but something happened in the meantime and some how the nurse suggested she give her an ant-acid pill.  I thought that was strange to take Alma's word for this. She came down not eating and feeling very bad.  I had been at the table every  time she had been there and she had not eaten for at least one day before this and perhaps 2.  When you consider I have been with her more than anyone by just being at meals with her.  Although she talks a lot she is still a person and hurts.  She managed to tell me she loves me and I returned the favor.
I tend to think this is more serious than just an upset stomach.  She has been in pain for ,two or three days and probably not eaten things.  My opinion of these "Nurses" here is not very  nigh.  How come her daughter was not here?  I cant imagine making the decision without getting in touch is irresponsible.  They even called me from Cascade Gardens that time when Kay just fell out of bed.  To do all this without telling her is poor practice.  Now maybe she was not available but Alma would have said something. Alma was in no condition to make this decision alone. Lets hope she is not upstairs in her room needing help. 

Big noise at table 8

 My first day of going over twice in one day.  She was hungry and ate several things.  Almost a whole banana.  

Big noise at table 8 in the dining room this evening.  I was telling the other three about going over twice a day to see Kay hopefully to bring back her walking strength.  I was telling them she has to walk or they will move her to the 1st floor.  It has a limited view of the outside. Very depressing.  It is for those in the final stages of dementia.  It still would be depressing to have Kay put there.  I was telling them how slow  she walked and compared her to the speed that Alma walks.  Now, I was pretty sure Alma might be sensitive about how she walks but she has been trying to be pleasant lately and I thought she could understand what I was trying to do.   She  mulled it over a while then began to attack in a rage any of us who didn't roll over and get up and leave in a huff.  Instead we just let her rant.  Karla tried to say something but she was screamed at by Alma calling her brain damaged.  Me, she said I smelled.  I cant think of what she called Debbie but we all just sat there letting her rant.  She was in such a rage that she would not calm down but continued on until the pill person came over and got her to calm down.  Giving her the "now now" treatment.  When we had made our point that she could not drive us away with her insults we got up promising to be back in the morning.  She has been driving people away from this table for nine years now and for people to sit and let her rant is something she cant cope with.  Others cave in to her rants and insults and as we don't follow suit it is a situation she cant cope with.  She even tried to invoke the Owner Hanson in her rant but that didn't work either. We just sat there and let her rage.  

That is enough for today.  Time for a break.   

Breakfast with Kay

 Second day of a morning visit to Kay.  She was still in bed and had not  eaten breakfast.  I went in her room and she was in bed but dressed.  I wondered if she had slept in her clothes.  She readily got up when I asked her to and took her to the dining room.  There she ate well and seemed to really appreciate the bacon. Not so much the scarmbled eggs.  I am quite sure they serve them without any seasoning and she just picked at them.  She ate a little of the cinnamon roll.  They are a cinnamon roll unlike anything you would buy at a bakery where they sell them.  I flat out don't like them. The cinnamon is not the usual taste.  I give mine to the lady across the table to eat with her three  bowls of Cherrios

I am so glad she is at the table so I can persue my radio listening or something else than listening to Alma talk.  A couple times Alma has insulted her.  Today was one.  When she politely asked Alma if she was feeling better Alma just lit into her. "It is none of your business"  and it went on and on from there.  The lady just sat there with her mouth open wondering what she had done to deserve this. I couldn't believe it. Finally Alma stopped insulting her.  I know Alma is on pain pills.  Which might be at the cause of her outbursts.  But the other lady is on pain medication too.  From her diabetes complications.  Her feet are painful.  Enough for one day don't you think..Except..... If it turns out as we plan I will be going to Shirleys  80th BD anniversary I think the 16 th of Aug with Bob.  I would have to have someone with me although Frank was very sick when he went to CA to deliver some gifts to his great grandchildren.  We didn't want him to go. We'd be gone a couple  nights.

 

   

You dont mess with Alma

 You don't mess with Alma.  Alma is a  87 black lady who has been here for 9 years.  She tends to speak her mind. She also has very specific food needs.  No eggs for instance.  This morning the fairly new food server brought her a plate of of eggs, toast and hash browns.   For a change the egg was cooked over easy. Quite hard to get before we started complaining about the food. It was also hot off the griddle another hard to get condition. The minute Alma saw the egg on her plate she blew up.  This is occurring on my blind side but I hear something to the  effect that she doesn't eat eggs and the server is a mean person.  This is a young girl who really tries hard to do a good job so it must have hurt.  The other day when I tried to pass Alma in the hall she called me a SOB.  That hurt too.  For a minute.  In about 30 seconds I see the person from the med room standing over Alma talking to Alma.  The server is nowhere to be seen. Obviously she had gone and said something to the people in the Med room.  Alma didn't seem to back down because she eats only certain things and they  know all that in the kitchen.   I don't know how it turned out because by this time I was done and got up and went to my room.   I rather doubt they changed Alma's mind.  They also learnd not to mess with Alma.  That poor server also learned something I think.