Sometimes it is just unavoidable. We had to call an ambulance to take one of our residents to hospital.
The Nurses on duty checked everything, and the ECG showed cardiac arrythmia, so she had to go to hospital.
Confusion was written all over her face. What is going on? What are they doing to me? Who are these people all around me?
Even though we explained and held her hand, it was not easy for her to hold onto the information.
” You are going to the hospital.”
“Why? No, I am not going!”
” You are sick, and you need to go.”
” I am not sick!”
You don’t feel well, your hearts’ rhythm is not good, that is why you need to go to get better”
“There is nothing wrong with my heart…”
And so, the conversation can carry on forever.
It was important to get the ambulance on its way, while the Nurse of Jura Care follows. The family was informed, but they were living far away. On the other side, she was calm as a sedative was administered. She was diagnosed with cardiac arrythmia and was administered to a Ward. The Nurse left her in the hands of the hospital.
The Nurses at the hospital told us that clinically she was doing fine but that the Dr wants to keep her for a couple of days.
I walked into the ward to find her lying in her bed with a dry crusted mouth and a glass and a full jug of water next to her bed.
“Are you thirsty?” I asked her. I knew she is someone who hates water although she has been living with one kidney for years.
It is interesting that the majority of people living with some form of Dementia refuse to drink water, or very seldom enjoy drinking water.
“Yes!” she said as she gulped down a whole glass of water and a bit later some more.
I cleaned her mouth from the yellow stickiness of dehydration.
It was almost lunch time, and the tray of delicious food were brought in and left on the table at her feet. She didn’t even notice it.
I fed her almost all of it, and as the Nurse came in, she was amazed at her enjoying her food. She couldn’t believe she was eating, because all the food the previous day went back untouched. No one realized that she cannot eat food if it was out of her reach. She has to see the food, she has to have the spoon placed in her hand, and she has to be coaxed to eat her food.
With a full tummy she laid back with her favorite Andre Rieu singing on my phone.
A lady with snow-white hair tried to get my attention in the other bed in the ward. She was asking for a comb. I searched her side table and found one and started combing her hair. Her mouth was also very dry, and I offered her some water. There was a syringe in a glass, so I assumed she was a choke risk as I looked up above her bed and saw the warning. She was so thankful and tried to ask for more. I immediately realized she was also living with Dementia, her confusion, her non-sensical communication was obvious symptoms to me. She finished the whole glass and asked for more!
She said in her soft voice: “I could drink water the whole day!”
She was fiddling with her sheet, and I peeked underneath, only to find a huge puddle of brightly colored blood oozing from her hand.
She moaned when I touched her arm, I realized she was in pain.
I rang the bell for assistance.
Eventually a male nurse came to assist, checked the sheets and left to find help.
I left her bedside after her thanking me so much, but not before the Ward Manager came to reprimand me because I was helping this woman. I was told not to interfere with their care. I very gently told the Manager, that I was helping a very thirsty person as I was also helping my patient to drink and eat, because they were left all by themselves. I told him that I did see the warning that she was a choke risk and used the syringe. If she was well looked after and hydrated by his staff, it wouldn’t have been necessary for me to do their job.
I wasn’t bothered, because I knew both of them were not thirsty anymore, and I will help again and again if I enter any hospital.
My patient was still enjoying the music on my phone. She didn’t want me to leave and begged me to take her home. It was so difficult to do that, and to make her understand that she must still get better. I promised her that I will take her home soon. Her heart was better, but then she “picked up something” while there and was on anti-biotics now.
I told her that we can listen to one more song before I have to go.
I chose a random song and without looking I pressed play. The sound of the beautiful song filled the room in the hospital ward.
” Time to say goodbye.
When you are far away
I dream on the horizon
and words fail
and yes, I know
that you are with me
my sun, you are here with me
with me, with me
Time to say goodbye……”
As the first notes reached my ears, I stopped in a shock.
That was not the song I wanted to play, and not the song I wanted her to hear!
My fingers were stupid and I couldn’t find the Stop button! I looked up and just saw her laying back against the pillow with such peace on her face. I didn’t press stop. I sat down on her bed, held her hand as we listened to the song of her ultimate hero.
My throat was thick as I softly sang the words, and it almost felt like I was saying goodbye.
I left after the song and promised her that I will visit her again tomorrow morning. I forced the thoughts of the song out of my mind as she smiled at me when I waved her goodbye. I smiled but I couldn’t get rid of the strange heaviness inside of me.
The next day on my way to visit her I quickly stopped to get her a tub of yoghurt and her favorite chocolate.
A block away from the hospital the phone call came.
” She just passed.”
I looked at the yoghurt and chocolate next to me on my car seat.
I was shocked.
“It was our time to say goodbye.”
I turned around and went back to Jura Care.
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