athena1277 Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 My fil has Parkinson’s and has been in the hospital almost a week. When he leaves the hospital, he will go to a skilled nursing / rehab facility where he won’t be allowed any visitors. We don’t live nearby, so no visits through the window. I’m not sure how well he can handle using his phone himself, so calls may be difficult. I had a small picture book made with pictures and names of each family member made so he can look at it and show the nurses. It was inexpensive, so if it gets damaged or lost, it can be replaced. We’ll send cards. What else can we do? What would be good to send? This is going to be very hard for mil also, so things that might help her through this would be helpful too. At this point we don’t know if he will come home fairly normal in what he can do or if he will come home on hospice. Also, my dad passed away from Parkinson’s just over a year ago. He was in the hospital, then skilled nursing, then home on hospice where he passed 3 weeks later. That memory is making harder for my family. Quote
73349 Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 I'm sorry your family is having to go through this. A flowering potted plant would make the room look more homelike and less clinical. Duo is really easy to use for video calls on a cell phone. 1 Quote
Tiberia Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 Frequent snail mail is something he could look forward to. Just a card or picture every few days would be nice. You could set up a kit of cards and pictures and prepare letters every Sunday, then put them in the mail every few days. I know mail call is something that gives them something to do. I just lost my dad to Parkinson's on July 1, so I share your sorrow. Hugs to you and your family. 1 1 Quote
prairiewindmomma Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 How able is he? Our family has iPads so they can use voice commands or push the green button to FaceTime us. Can you talk to the head of nursing there to work out communication availability? Can you hang cameras in the room? I am not so trusting of LTC facilities, so I’d be looking for ways to provide accountability. Quote
Pen Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 Can he take a laptop or pad type computer and use some method of touch or voice commands? Can he answer a cellphone even if not place a call? Quote
athena1277 Posted July 19, 2020 Author Posted July 19, 2020 35 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said: How able is he? Our family has iPads so they can use voice commands or push the green button to FaceTime us. Can you talk to the head of nursing there to work out communication availability? Can you hang cameras in the room? I am not so trusting of LTC facilities, so I’d be looking for ways to provide accountability. I’m not sure what will be available yet. There is a member of our extended family in the place they are hoping he will go. It sounds like a good place, but I don’t know what kind of accountability there is there. I don’t even know if mil will be allowed to go in long enough to get him settled in. Quote
Spryte Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 (edited) I’m so sorry, it’s so hard. My FIL is in a long term facility, permanently. He is wheelchair bound, and not always able to do everything he’d like. Here are a few things he’s enjoyed or found helpful, other than cards and phone calls: An Amazon Show. It’s like an Alexa, but with a screen. He can just use his voice to call MIL, or us. Ditto answering our calls - it’s voice activated. We all got Shows so he can do this, but my SILs just use the Alexa app on their phones, I think. He can’t always reach or use his phone, and his fingers don’t work on touch screens like IPads, so this has been a good solution. It needed some set up, your FIL will need tech support there, or ship it to yourself, set up, then ship it to the facility. He can also use the Show to play music, news, anything an Alexa does. It’s good for us to see him, too. Noise canceling headphones for when he had a loud roommate. Also good when he had a loud person across the hall. Bluetooth headphones for the tv (some facilities provide these upon request). A larger tv than the first one provided by the facility (ask the staff for this, they may provide one, if he has trouble seeing it). A shower caddy. His own towels, as the facility’s were rough. PJs, slippers, new toiletries, etc. A plastic drawer bin with an organizer on top for the bathroom items, to keep in the bathroom. Edited July 19, 2020 by Spryte 3 Quote
Spryte Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 Just now, Pen said: Something lockable might be helpful Oh! Yes. The very first night that FIL was in, his pen was stolen. It was a beautiful, wood turned pen that DH had literally just made for FIL. FIL was distraught. So a lockbox might be good for sentimental items. Also - we have been through five cell phones this year, as he leaves them in pockets and the staff does not always check before doing laundry. Some system for that would be good. If you find a good one, please share. 🤣 Sharpies for marking clothes and laundry with his name, too. 1 Quote
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