I got a call today from the assisted living facility where my parents live that both of them have tested positive for Covid. Dad is 87, diabetic, has heart issues, and was also diagnosed with pneumonia last Friday. Mom is 85 and her body is relatively fit but she has stage 6 (out of 7) dementia. They were both transported to the hospital. Mom was released back to the facility but Dad was kept. They live in a fairly small town and the hospital doesn’t have any space. They’re trying to get him a bed somewhere. His ER doctor called me and we discussed heroic measures. According to his living will, he doesn’t want any.
Any thoughts, vibes, or prayers would be appreciated.
One other thing that I should just let go but can’t seem to, maybe venting will help. Dad is a Gideon and the Gideons have always been there for him. They’re like family. The head of Dad’s local Gideon chapter sent out an email that they have the “China virus.” It pisses me off but I’ll hold my tongue, just not here.
That is a really tough one-two punch, Nars. My thoughts are with you. It’s so much to handle at once. Not only the emotional tribulations but all the organizational stuff on top of that. I hope you can all do as well as possible.
Nars, I hope they get the best outcome for them; what that is, I don’t know. You are in a tough spot. I am so sorry for you in this situation. Thinking of you and yours, Nars. All my best.
FWIW, several elders in my aged MIL’s facility have tested COVID positive over the months. A couple were hospitalized and later released; none have died. This is all 80+ folks in typically ragged 80 yo condition.
Your father’s pneumonia is very worrisome. Absent that there’s still lots of reason to be optimistic.
They found a bed for Dad in Tulsa, which is where I grew up and he lived most of his adult life until he retired. He was admitted and then pretty quickly moved to an ICU bed. He’s disoriented and is requiring a high amount of oxygen to keep his O2 sats up. They’ve installed a PICC line to assist with drawing blood and administering IV’s.
Mom was taken back to the local hospital, treated and released. They discovered that she has a UTI and is being treated for it. She’s also on a Z-pack, a steroid, and is receiving breathing treatments. I’m told that she slept well in the night and that her O2 level was 92, which isn’t bad. The challenge will be to get her up and moving but she’s not being very cooperative right now. I’m sure that Dad not being there is making matters much worse.
Good to hear of progress all around. As you probably know, UTIs often manifest as (additional) confusion in the elderly. Getting that knocked down will help Mom at least some.
My great aunt (in a nursing home) contracted COVID earlier this year at 105. She recovered, celebrated her 106th birthday, and passed in mid October (not COVID related). Nars, old folks are tough. Hoping for the best for your parents.
Sorry to hear of your great aunt’s death, but bravo to her for beating COVID. And for making 106.
Similar story here. My then 94yo MIL thought she had a cold for about a week back in April. Just as she started feeling recovered they came around to test everyone for COVID. This was the first en masse test of residents, not staff, at her facility. She came back positive. Same on the retest a week later. The third and 4th weekly retests were negative so they let her out of total isolation into the semi-isolation everyone “enjoyed” then.
Her 95th birthday was a few months later & she’s still going strong now.
Tough old critters, most of 'em. Everybody eventually gets to their sell-by date, but the very elderly usually are looking pretty hale up until very close to the end.