Day 23 - January 13, 2013

I spent a good morning visiting with my dad.  Today and yesterday have both been somewhat slower days.  He is talkative and feels better, and so as a result he wants to get active again.  What he wants to do the most is have someone bring his shoes up to him and go for a walk outside.  Although I imagine he would be fine to go for a walk outside, its just not likely to happen today because it would be really pushing the hospital rules and protocols.  He is still considered a fall risk because he has some balance issues, but overall is in pretty good shape.  They just want to make sure that someone is with him as he walks in case he trips or mis-steps (which hasn't happened at all thankfully).  In any case, no matter how we try to explain that it is raining, and that he has no shoes right now, and that it is against the hospital rules, he keeps turning the conversation towards how he would like to go outside for a walk today.  Earlier he kept telling me, "I can't wait for your mom to get here so that we can go for a walk outside together."  I joked with him that "you do remember mom...right?!?  do you think she is the type of person who enjoys long walks outside on cold rainy days??"  At least I got a bit of a laugh out of him with that one.

He also has talked a lot about projects he is thinking of for the house.  I don't know specifically what he was referring to, but it seems like that part of him is back to normal....anytime he sits for too long, he starts dreaming of a new house project.  Even when the house is completely done and a normal person couldn't see anything else to work on...my dad can find something more to do.

We apologize for not updating yesterday.  It was very similar to the way that today is playing out as well.  Very slow for a dad who is feeling good and ready to go.  Nathan called me last night to let me know he was worried....apparently dad was scouting out where the elevators were located on the floor.  Once he found them, it took a few tries looking around the elevators, but soon he found the buttons for the elevators.  Nate said when he did that, his face just lit up.  Nate redirected him, but not without some effort.  On another of their walks, dad started noting the staircases that were at the end of each hallway....again, with each one his face lit up.  Nate was worried that as soon as someone left him unattended, he was scheming plans to break out.  Thankfully, they have ways of detecting that type of thing, and had someone to intercept if dad tries to walk unattended.  Its good that he is feeling better and that he is putting some of these pieces back together, but at the same time getting him to realize that he has to follow the rules and that there is a good reason for him to stay.

Yesterday and today, we have been working on brain exercises with dad.  He does better and better each day.  The mazes that were trouble a few days ago are now easy for him and he can get through all of them without trouble.  The worksheet where he was supposed to circle each of the stars is an easy one now as well.  We work through cards where he has to match the words with the pictures.  For example, there will be a picture of a chicken and three words: dog, cow and chicken.  He has to find the word that matches the picture and he does fairly well with this.  At this point he still gets distracted pretty easily and that is one of the difficult things about working through these exercises.  He is able to participate in 30-45 minute bursts though and when we talk to each of the different rehab facilities, they typically work for 30 minutes at a time about 6-8 times per day. 

As we were talking today, he reminded my that Michigan has a basketball game on TV that he doesn't want to miss.  I had to leave before the game, but hopefully he got the chance to enjoy it. 

Aubrey and Nate have taken the day to head towards Ann Arbor and Detroit and tour some of the different rehab facilities that we are considering.  The head nurse last night had shared with them that her father went through a similar accident and recovery process a few years ago.  She recommended that "cold calling" by showing up on a Sunday afternoon might actually be one of the best ways to see what the facilities were like and how it is run. In addition, being able to see how they are really set up, what the nurse to patient ratio looks like, what the rooms look like, what types of activities are available, etc. will make the decision easier.  It one thing to look at what the marketing department has put up on a website, but better to actually go see it before making a decision.  So far we have heard from Aubrey and Nate on two of the four places they originally plan to check out.