I want to die...ho ho ho...

"I want to die!" Okaasan moaned. Then laughed. Then moaned.

Our latest, joint visit wasn't a happy one.

Okaasan was slumped in her wheelchair by the lounge TV. Here eyes all sleepy, her speech slurred. Her mood bad.

Even Dear Son, with his funny chat, couldn't change it. She wasn't in a good place.

We weren't either. We'd just heard that a friend/old student of mine has contracted a serious disease and we were on our way to see her. Okaasan's care home was nearby.

That morning Okaasan had, apparently, successfully gone to the 3rd floor and day care again. Physical exercise, handicrafts, chat and lunch. And now she was exhausted.
We took her back to her room and put her to bed. At home she slept a LOT. Hours and hours every day. In the care home - of course - they try to keep people up and in the public space, so they are easier to monitor and will be less trouble at night. Try to keep them in daylight/awake - nighttime/sleep pattern.

We felt stressed and sad.
Left Okaasan in bed and went to see our friend. Pretty grim and awful. She is my age. A super active, live-life-to-the-max person in work and play. Struck with CFD, the madcow-like disease. 3 weeks ago working...felt a bit strange - and now shaking and weak in a hospital bed. It was a hard visit.

Two hours later we went back to Okaasan.
She was up and back in the lounge with the TV - smiling, laughing - and happy again.
Dear Son was relieved. Me too. Sleep is good for all of us.

Yesterday I did the same 2 visits. My friend, and then Okaasan.
The hospital and care home are 10 mins drive apart. My friend was ok and enjoyed a Starbucks latte and I helped her eat lunch. Then Okaasan was watching Olympic ski aerial races and all smiley. I wheeled her to the care home front door for  some fresh air, took two elevator rides and went to the toilets.
And came home again.

Okaasan is settling in the care home life. She was even smiling and exchanging words with other residents yesterday, a good sign. Some of the residents on her floor are fully mobile and able to chat. Mostly women. If she WOULD open up and let conversation in, it is there for the having.

Onwards.
This week I have the accountant visit, a few more winter illuminations, a whole lot of work, the stray cat near the house to worry about (I'm now feeding it in the hope that I can catch her and get her help with a cat NPO)...oh...and snow clearing.