She's On The Move Again

This week has been another busy week for Aloma. On Monday, February 20 she moved to the new Burns Manor in Hutchinson. The new facility is reportedly quite nice, hotel-like I've heard. She has been getting settled in. Her granddaughter, Tracie and her husband Jay brought her a TV the other day along with a blanket that Tracie made for her and get well card made by Jay and Tracie's daughter (Aloma's great granddaughter), Avarie. All things she was very happy to have. She still hasn't been sleeping very well at night and thinks that having the TV will help. She is used to having the TV chatter and flicker while she sleeps and had no trouble remembering how to use the remote control. Let's hope this familiar comfort helps.

She is getting very good care at Burns Manor. The staff has been very nice and attentive. Aloma is getting good food, although she still isn't eating as much as she used to, she is being kept bathed and comfortable and the staff is working with her to do some exercise therapy from her chair. Patsy says that she can see Aloma is getting stronger. The menu allows her to choose from two main items along with her choice of side items. It also sounds like the kitchen staff will make a meal for a resident whenever desired, although the staff tries to keep the residents on a regular meal schedule eaten in the nice dinning room. Now, that's great service! She has been enjoying breakfast very much which seems to be her favorite meal. Aloma is a strong-willed woman and it's hard to keep her down. There have been occasions where she tries to get up from her chair or out of bed on her own. Her attempts have results in a few minor scrapes and she now has a pressure sensitive matt underneath her that sounds an alarm for the staff when she tries to get up without help. This is all for her safety. The staff do not want her to try to get up and move around on her own because she is not yet strong enough to support herself. We hope that, with time and therapy, that will return and allow Aloma more freedom.

Aloma continues to be in a good mood and have a good attitude. She's looking forward to interacting with some of the other residents at Burns Manor. But, she'll need to get out of her wing and around some of the more communicative residents. Those that she is closest to suffer from memory problems and are living mostly in their own heads, they don't talk much, if at all. So far this week she has been able to get out to the common room where there were more residents to meet and greet. During one visit from Patsy and Pat they met her in the common room where she was sitting with puzzel in hand and ready to get started. The three of them enjoyed some puzzel time together. And, if you know Aloma, you know that she has a penchant for Bingo. The staff now has it on record to include her in their regular Bingo sessions. She will LOVE that and I'm excited to hear of how much she enjoys her first Bingo game.

This has been a good move for Aloma and an amazing sign of healing.

Until next time...