Transition

 The transition from rehab to a skilled nursing facility has been difficult. There is a level of attention that is expected in rehab and helps the patient progress. Simple things like communication, addressing him and having conversations, dressing him, digital monitoring, regular timely rounds to just look in on him. Helping him to do everyday hygiene and encourage him to start asking for what he needs and wants. Very prompt attention if he needs it. He is basically coming out of a dark, dark hole and having to rewire and relearn some things. Most everything. If you think about that... even for a few minutes... relearning almost everything. How many years of, "I already know how to do that", to "What?"

Rehab also scheduled three hours of therapy per weekday. Not always a smooth and productive session, especially with the rotation of personnel and starting from square ones over and over. And, not always productive because Mister Sleepy didn't wanna. You need a consistent schedule with expectations to build the foundation. After all, you can't start building from the third floor.

Skilled nursing is very different, and if you don't know the right questions to ask, it is a tough way to find out. Most of us really take so many things for granted in daily life that it is hard to form questions around lack. Luckily, we know a lot of the questions to ask, but not all. We really don't know how to gauge how they are answering. Truth or Dare. It's also about perspective and perception. Tomato....to-mah-toe...potato...po-tah-toe. Different takes on a similar or same subject.

Under stressful situations, how about we just add a lot more stress and open ended questions to the mix to make it really interesting. That's really what each medical phase is. You ask what you know to ask, hope they tell you the real answer and not what they think you want to hear, and be flexible enough to fix what was misunderstood or glossed over. Flight lessons really. Let's just cut the engines and ride the currents for a while, Then when you learn, you're not going to crash... and there's really no need to panic... you can turn the engines back on and shift the control. Till the next times the engines are cut.

Jim...is..still .. progressing... in spite of any and all of it. He has gained at least 16 pounds in two weeks. He is walking, but only in therapy, with a walker while lightly assisted from the therapy room. About fifty feet. Amazing! He is taking, not given his medication and reaching for drinks off the table. Putting them back and be a little bit tricky. I wore a nice glass of iced tea yesterday, and the table wasn't big enough for the protein shake, so it got dropped to the floor. Paloosha!! Chocolate rain. Not a big deal. His perspective is off because of the detached lens, so it is fully understandable. Add to that, he hasn't lost any of his stealthy speed.

Do I expect a lot? Yes I do. I set the bar high, as I have been told, but I'm also flexible. I learned that a long time ago. But, flexible does not mean you keep bending until you alter your standard and accept less when more is attainable. You may decide to do that after considering your position that could afford some lessoning.  I like to know what I'm dealing with, so I can make logical and educated decisions. If we disagree, fine.  That can and should be done without bodily damage. When it comes to Jim and his care, I find it difficult to expect anything but the best. From anyone and everyone. He is vulnerable. He depends on everyone asserting on his behalf. When he comes out of this, and wants to express things any differently for himself, that is a transition I am definitely looking forward to.