3 dear friends connected with Lynne after long absences. They talked about skiing, divorces, kids, schools, playgrounds, back alleys. I felt closure from each visitor. Lynne listened. She reached out to stop them when we had to go. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Lynne mostly slept. Chatted with friend KarenC & sister Pam. Brief agitation. Drank Ensure for breakfast. Carol’s oximeter measures oxygen. If too low they’ll put her on oxygen. Carol: “She’s so calm it’s unbelievable Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Tuesday, Lynne was bedbound from exhaustion, weakness, fatigue & not eating. Her body began transitioning, the 1st of 2 stages of her ending. Her sons, brother, sister, & friends visited. Sunday she ate, sat up and partied. She’s strong, loving, & loved. We’ll see. #alzauthors

This is a good article describing the last stages of her heroic and loving journey. We’ll be caregiving beside her, sharing all the love we will gather from everyone who has been supporting us. https://shorturl.at/dhPQR

We improved Lynne’s footcare. I had failed to set up routine visits for podiatry and dental hygiene. Managers will remind caregivers & hospice to treat her feet well. Pam taught me to give her feet a thumb massage.I posted two reminders in her room and one in the nurse’s office to care for Lynne’s feet when washing and dressing her. Carol massaged Lynne’s legs and arms. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Pam, & Keith, Lynne’s brother & sister had a good visit & walked with her. Her fingernails and toenails were awful. Lynne was really agitated when they messed with her feet to check them. They trimmed her fingernails. Her toenails were not OK. Lynne had a hole in her left shoe where that big toenail sticks out. Pam said the toenails looked like there were callouses or fungus there too. They told staff to have the nurse trim her nails. I’ll follow up. I should never have let that happen. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Joyous Christmas visit: Lynne’s sons & their dad, brother & his daughters, sister and I, and our partners. That day, Lynne stood, walked, sat, dozed, & recycled. She dozed on our 2 visits. We loved her & each other  Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Lynn R: Lynne sat up & moved to the front of her chair. She stood & took off sure footed & fast. We walked like old times. I said, “Good job.” She said, “Thank you.” I hugged her & told her I loved her. She gave me her sweet smile. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

The hospice medical nurse has raised her morphine to 0.5 mg 3x per day to see if she exhibits less pain and tends to calm down. Too early to tell. Not in pain today. Her weight stabilized: at 111.4 vs 112 last month. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Lynne joined Carol & me to sing “Jingle” in Jingle Bells. She tolerated our incomplete lyrics of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. Brushed her hair, massaged her legs. Photo is Lynne focusing on my promised kiss. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Samantha/Hospice was 2nd visit in an hour. Lynne was equally upbeat . Bit tired, quiet. Laughed, clapped to a song & tapped her foot. Aware of resident friends. She stayed upbeat after a visit leaves her alone. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter