At Hospice in Kailua

Monday, 5 March 2007

Today, my brother and stepmom dropped my dad off at a hospice home in Kailua (Enchanted Lakes area). A bed opened up in this five bedroom house, and my dad came here to give my stepmom respite. He will be here all week, and then go back home for the weekend. They spent 4 hours orienting the nurses with my dad's care. They had to show them how to lift and transfer him, how to operate the bi-pap breathing machine, and tell them his basic routine as far as bathing and toileting goes. I came after running errands (getting copies of the marriage certificate and changing the title from my Uncle Ray's Ford Explorer to my name). Dad was sitting in the recliner watching ESPN. There are two nurses on duty. The patient next door to my dad has been here for awhile, as she has photos and things all over the room. Dad's room just looks like a hospital room, with a view of the Ko'olau Mountains and the street. He likes the shades to be open so he can watch the neighborhood traffic go by.

I came just in time to show the nurses how to transfer him from the chair to the wheelchair and then to the commode. It took a long time though, and those extra minutes caused him to be very anxious and short of breath by the time they got him on the commode chair to toilet and sponge bathe. Noticing the expression on his face, I quickly got on the bi-pap mask and he was visibly upset. He explained to the nurses why he needs the air and why we need to move quickly and efficiently when transferring him.

I don't think the nurses are used to having to move people that are physically incapacitated. There are about two other patients here. Not sure what their illnesses are, perhaps cancer and such. Yet, my dad has still full control of his mind and has no problem telling them how he likes things, when he wants things, where he wants things, and how you should do them. The nurses admitted that this is a learning experience working with him. Although my dad may have to adjust to their cooking here, not having his remote control with the big buttons to change the channels, and getting used to having sponge baths instead of full showers daily, he has an air-conditioned room and the staff is really nice here.