I am the primary caretaker for my mother who is in a private independent care facility--but she is hardly independent. I have a nurse in with her Monday through Friday, but on weekends and evenings either I'm with her most of the time or a member of my family when I'm sick. Yesterday when I went to see her I discovered the facility wouldn't let me in at all--only medical personnel. My mom just got out of the hospital due to congestive heart failure and she has advancing Alzheimer's. I can't believe I can't even get in to see her.
Source unknown.
Stay home.
I’ve seen those toilet paper earrings advertised. So Funny. I know, I am warped 😉
One really interesting turn of events is how the virus is effecting our funeral homes. Social distancing and limitations on the number of people attending funerals. Death is a big business here. We respect our dead here, from funerals to our unique and beautiful cemeteries.
No second line jazz funerals either! Wow...big cultural changes in our unique city. These are unique times though that requires focusing on controlling this virus.
Man, I hope people listen to the advice. If they don’t our local police have announced they will give out citations. Glad our police officers are staying on top of enforcing the regulations that are for our safety.
My husband is on a project 2 states away. He’s driving in Friday, 11hrs.
I was filling him in on the state of affairs around here. His only question was “are the liquor stores still open?”
Luckily we're stocked for food and I'm not worried. Everyone is looking out for everyone else!
Sooo, starting in about 10 days I will have grandkids 6yrs and 18 months. 😳 Not that big of a deal, they spend a lot of time with me anyway. But with situation, how long?
I remembered a country slaughter house that I used to go to with my Dad. Googled. They are still in business! Buzzed over there yesterday before the school announcement, I just felt it was coming, and stocked up on meat. I keep things in my big freezer but not what I will probably need for this situation.
Our store shelves are empty.
I looked around the internet and I think you can freeze milk. If anyone has frozen milk successfully let me know. I want to freeze heavy cream actually and hate to waste a pint for a science experiment.
My adult son (31) is very ill. Awful fatigue for the last month. He started running fever and went to Walk In Yesterday morning. The Dx was Strep Throat. I don’t know, just seems more serious to me. Monitoring him for respiratory symptoms.
Son’s wife is a banker. She had a customer in her office this week. Guy let it be known that he was around shaking hands, Bro hugging some buddy 4 days prior and the Buddy has since become ill and tested positive. This customer was supposed to be in self quarantine!!! But, was out opening a checking account and who knows what else in town. So there’s that...
I live in a rural area so that’s a plus.
I prefer being here. I only go to town when needed so on a normal basis, I am usually stocked up for 2-3 weeks.
Stay Safe Everyone.
Yes, you can most definitely freeze milk in cartons. I come from a military family of seven, and my mother would do huge grocery runs at the base commissary twice a month. Each child would take turns going with her to help. She would freeze multiple cartons of milk and loaves of bread in our large freezer. Whosever turn it was, would take out a loaf of bread and a carton of milk to thaw on the counter the night before. I can still remember the little ice chips that would still be present in the milk the next day. Put a towel under the carton to collect the moisture as the milk thaws. Memories!
New community-nurse called me after sis had been bawling for 4 hours. I could hear sis crying in the background of the call with the nurse. Yes she cried before-recent people were not doing much to redirect etc at recent community-they would take sis to her room and shut the door. New community I already do not have a good feeling about them not giving some extra TLC to new person who is clearly distressed from the move and now can not see me at all. I called back a few times to see how things are going with sis-same nurse did not recall who I was talking about....(person with the loud crying) .Sis does have a phone in her room-i tried calling not sure it is ringing in her room....Each time we have made a move sis goes down hill by a big chunk-I am really afraid of what I am going to see when I finally get to see my sister. I am allowed to send cards and check in with the nursing it will have to do for now.
They are all probably stressed out too because f the new coronavirus rules, but it does sound as if they could try somehow to involve you more.
Sending you support!
So many of our events are also attended by tourists, including many from Europe and Asia.
So, they are saying the timing of our Mardi Gras celebrations was right for our city to be highly infected with the virus due to the large crowds at the parades and throughout the city at that time.
More and more closures daily to help stop the spread of this virus. The people here are starting to feel the impact. Some are saying they don’t know how they will survive. A few restaurants are giving free food to those in need.
I don't know what others think but this all just seems unreal! Like we are all in a weird movie!
Pharmacy, gas, food, hardware stores allowed to be open. Schools as far as I know are closed but still serving breakfast and lunches. don't know if this is all schools or not. Don't know about SNF or other such facilities. Food banks are still operating.
Most food type deliveries are still operating. Had a Drs appointment today. Everyone was wearing masks except the Dr. No one in waiting room Only a few patients waiting in the hall.
Cleared my throat in a convenient store and the clerk nearly went into a panic. Sanitized hands after taking my money. Then reached into drawer to make change.Would not place money into my hands but balanced everything on the paper and gingerly pointed it in my direction.
Most shopping centers and strip malls were deserted. Traffic was slightly less today.
Construction work is allowed to continue as the discretion of the contractor.
Mail delivery will continue so far, although it is not being sprayed.
Be safe and wash frequently.
good luck to all of us!
don’t know about ya’ll but.....the grocery stores here are pitiful. I went to 2 stores today....still can’t get toilet paper but got some paper towels. Both stores were basically out of meat! No eggs. No bread.The smaller store was out of milk and coffee creamer too. We mainly needed meat to freeze but all I could get was a seasoned tri tip and 2 rib eyes from the butchers counter. So we will be living off pasta, cereal and rice for a while LOL.
I think everyone is in a state of shock and dread about the coronavirus deaths at the Seattle nursing home.
This is day 2 of the schools being closed and let me just say.....my patience is shot. I am not cut out for home schooling! So much respect for teachers who do this daily because I just about lost my mind trying to keep my & year focused and on task. But on the bright side we are healthy and safe at home and that is all that is important. My husband has to go in to work, his profession is one that never shuts down and is fortunate/unfortunate enough to have job security no matter what and while the city is essentially closed, he still has to report for work. He works a desk job now so he’s not at as much risk as most of his coworkers so I am not too worried. Selfishly I kind of wish he was working with home and could share in the home school duties to save my sanity hehe! It is what it is....I am glad we are ordered to shelter in place.
And unfortunately, we don't know until too late if we've been in contact with someone who's carrying the virus. So, why take chances?
From your description, it sounds as though b/c your area is rural, there wouldn't be that many hospitals, especially ones equipped with the necessary testing, quarantine, neg pressure rooms or isolation facilities. Even the larger metro areas don't have everything they need in the hospitals. Again, why take the chance?
This is an interesting article on the subject, on the resistance of some of the Millennials, of young people who don't accept and won't cooperate with the quarantine guidelines.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-generational-war-is-brewing-over-coronavirus/ar-BB11ihOw?ocid=spartandhp
Any one of us could come in contact with someone with this mindset and be exposed. To me, it isn't worth the risk.
And truthfully, I'm really enjoying not feeling obligated to go out. I love staying home and reading, and I've got boxes and boxes of material, of yarn, embroidery thread, art work to complete, and now that I've got my new eyes, I can play music again. So I'm enjoying this respite.
And it's almost planting time!
If my father were alive though, I would be quarantining him, especially since his church friends had no common sense and brought over bunches of kids whenever they wanted to visit.
I might have taken the chance if I were younger, and hadn't gone through a caregiving journey, but after that, I've become much more anxious about exposures, especially to COVID 19.
Be safe, but not sorry.
I reread your original post. She is not in independent living, but an independent care facility. What does that mean? Privately owned? What level of care? It sounds like nursing home level, but how is it they you have been providing the nursing care instead of them? In a later post, you said that you give her showers, medication, food, and change bandages. If this facility is unable to provide these services, and they won’t let you in to do them, she should be moved to one that can provide proper care.
Mom and I are both in the high risk group but there's only been 3 cases (all related to international travel) within 100 miles of our home in Northeast TN (across 3 states). We live in a mostly rural area with 3 medium sized cities (around 60,000 each) and several small cities (10,000-20,000). Following the CDC recommendations, schools, churches, and other organizations have retreated to online only or canceled meetings for at least 2-3 weeks. Restaurants have gone to every other table seating or delivery only.
Mom's ADC is still open since it has less than 40 clients; there's a full time nurse there checking each client twice a day and supervising extra cleaning.
My brother (who normally visits 1-2 times weekly) is working reduced hours in a factory where workers are distanced by manufacturing requirements and he is taking hygiene and distancing seriously.
My nephew (who lives next door and his kids are normally in our home daily) is continuing his construction work and his crews are probably the most covid-19 unconcerned people in our social circle. Because construction is dirty work, my nephew's daily after work routine is to pull his boots off outside the house and then head to the laundry room to stripe down to his boxers (clothes straight into washer) before taking a shower. His wife really just woke up to the potential threat covid-19 poses to her parents (in their 80s and lifelong smokers) in the last few days. Most of the kids are old enough to understand why hygiene is important; they have not protested hand washing and changing into clean clothes after school when entering my home. Since this weekend, their step-mother started enforcing the same rules in her/their home.
I order food for delivery or pick up or get my brother or niece-in-law to bring a few items when they are already out doing their own shopping. Mom and I are capable of living in almost total isolation... so when do we begin? Although Mom has MCI, she still practices her lifelong good hand washing discipline and will use sanitizer whenever asked.
My plan has been to continue ADC until there is a community spread case in our area, primarily because Mom wants to go. I can live without the respite ADC provides but Mom really wants to get out of the house. On the non-ADC days, she often spends most of the afternoon trying to talk me into taking her visiting, although the people she wants to visit are frequently long deceased. I've been ill and not up to taking her on drives but hopefully that will change soon.
Continue ADC, let the kids keep coming and my brother continue visiting, at least until there's some cases in our community? Or isolate ourselves now?
Did you know that "they" ordered 250,000 more body bags?
Really... I texted, reserve one for me and put my name on it.... I am too tired to get into the panic mode...
Do you have food for 30 days? Pet food? I texted him a pic of my dog and cat together. And then the other cat for some reason, likes to fold himself into small things.. LIKE MY CAST IRON PAN !!! (salad bowl, pIace mat, ) texted my sibling : cat is stuffed and ready to bake...
My caretakers for aunt asked me not to bring in dog as they too can be carriers of this virus...
Precautions are on the rise... Be Patient... Keep your kool cap on, stay calm, and sit back a moment before reacting... Better said then done.... I don't do that, but I am trying. grab a glass of wine.. AND BLOG...
Hahaha, I did pour a glass of Pinot earlier to chill out with. Needed a break from it all.
Dinner was cheese, fruit, crackers and wine!
BEE SUITS.
Bees suits are very protective...
Seriously an allowed select few of family members on a list should be permissable. If they deny it.. LET THEM KNOW IN WRITING THEY ARE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MOM... !!
My LO had CHF for so many years...She lived for so many years... I think I have CHF... I will get it checked one of these days... MY feet swell up constantly,. One sign of CHF...
The night before she was to move, we were told AL is going on lockdown. I can move her, but can’t visit her. They would reassess on Monday. Did we want to wait? Yes! My assumption was the lockdown decision would remain, and Mom would stay in her current place until it was lifted. I would continue to care for her in the interim— I went on FMLA a few weeks ago to do so. But, no. Now mom needs to vacate her place by Friday. Her current place is likely sold. (This is how CCCs work. It’s kind of a Ponzi scheme. You buy in but don’t get your $$ back until you check out for good.) I am gravely concerned over her mental well being. She didn’t want to go to AL and has never been a good advocate for her needs.
I know we are contractually obligated to move by Friday. But how can they let anyone in AL after they’ve locked it down?
These are not ordinary times so maybe you won’t have any issues and they will make an exception about the deadline that was issued.
I would be understanding of it but it isn’t me that you are dealing with.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Bars are now closing and restaurants will be take out or drive through only.
All museums are closed. Movie theaters are closed.
Our governor wants to adhere to stricter regulations to reduce spreading. Death rate is at 3. Over 100 cases in our state with the majority being in New Orleans.
A doctor also announced if we are infected we should not be around our animals. We would need to have someone else care for our animals.
The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 22,000 deaths, 36 million flu illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations.
Rates for children 0-4 years and adults 18-49 years are now the highest CDC has on record for these age groups
Flu ("regular flu") activity was high in Puerto Rico and 41 states. It was moderate in Ohio and New Hampshire. It was low in the District of Columbia, Alaska, Delaware, Idaho and Nevada.
Only minimal amounts of flu were reported in Arizona, Florida and Wyoming.
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And yet, depending on which age group and which source you read, around HALF (50 %) of people do NOT get flu vaccines.
So my thought is, how many will get a coronavirus vaccine when it one day becomes available ???
"Everyone" is so worried about the coronavirus vaccine which has no available vaccine yet. But the "regular flu" which does have a vaccine is not discussed.... is actually ignored when there IS a vaccine available. WHY IS THAT ???? 22,000 deaths is by no means a small amount !!!!
Hmm...