Wesley Chapel, Florida (high 83, low 64)
I think the rainy weather we’ve been having is finally moving out. Now we’re in for a heat wave.
Yesterday was spent taking Mom for the follow up visit to the neurologist. He had done an EEG and some blood work and we were anxious to hear the results.
The EEG showed nothing wrong, which was good news. The blood work showed her thyroid was quite a bit too high. A few months ago, it was really low and the doctor increased her thyroid medicine. I believe he probably increased it too much though and now we’ll have to adjust it again. We got an appointment for Thursday for another doctor that will adjust the thyroid meds.
Anyway, after the doctor appointment, we took her to Sweet Tomato’s. Yeah…we ate there two days in a row. No wonder we’re not losing any weight!
After lunch we took her by a nursing home to visit her friend Kathy.
Mom is on the right in the red and Kathy is on the left. Kathy is going to be 95 years old next month! Her biggest problem is she can’t hear and it makes it extremely difficult to converse with her.
She is under the control of her young grandson. She made the mistake of thinking she could trust him and she gave him power of attorney over her health and financial decisions.
We haven’t been real happy with some of the decisions he has made. When he moved her from her home to the nursing home, he never gave her any choices of what she wanted to bring. He picked out the clothes and personal items he thought she needed. He won’t bring her things that she asks for. He won’t let her have a telephone and the caregivers say he never brings her shampoos, lotions of cosmetics she needs. It’s sad that old people lose complete control of their life once they get older and are sent off to a home. If the family member that has power of attorney isn’t looking out for their best interests, then they really are up a creek. Kathy keeps telling us she thought she could trust her grandson. She now regrets her decisions to give him so much control. Our only consolation is that at least he put her in a really nice nursing home. Of course,it’s with her money.
I’ve had some readers asking about my camera. I use a Canon SX 30 IS. It’s digital, but not a SLR. I don’t like having to change the lens and this one eliminates that. I always have the lens I need for the subject I find. However, the quality is not what I could get from a DSLR.
Here is some info I found on the web on the camera.
A PowerShot with an Extreme Zoom.
The PowerShot SX30 IS has got you prepared for your next extreme photo opportunity. This point-and-shoot digital camera comes with a massive 35x Wide-Angle (24-840mm) Optical Zoom lens - a first for any PowerShot! It also comes with a 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD, 14.1 Megapixels, High Dynamic Range, Zoom Framing Assist and much more.
What I like the best about the camera is the “stalker” zoom lens and the optical viewfinder.
here is a link to an old blog post of mine which shows the amazing power of this zoom lens.
Canon has recently introduced a newer and more powerful version of this camera.
I believe this is their new version. I didn’t look at it too closely because I don’t want to learn of some new wonderful features that I will absolutely have to have.
I know it has a more powerful zoom but I am really quite happy with the zoom on my current camera. I never use a tripod and I can’t hold the camera still enough to handle any more power in the zoom.
Our plans today are to go to our new gym for the first time. We didn’t make it yesterday and are anxious to give it a try. We’re hoping it’s not too awfully crowded!
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Sad to hear about her grandson. I don't know the laws in Florida but he may be boarding on elder abuse and could be reported, especially if he has power of attorney.
ReplyDeleteShe looks wonderful for her age! But what a shame her grandson doesn't seem to respect her needs. We all need some of our comforting things around us. He may have gotten rid of the things she needs, but still, it's sad. Hope they get your Mom's thyroid levels right. Sweet Tomatoes has good soup! Yum! could use a bowl of that about now...
ReplyDeleteIf she is still of sound mind she can revoke her POA any time she wants. All she needs is a lawyer and someone she'd rather have. Where are her children?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Kathy is going to be 95. Both those gals look like they are in their 70's. If only I can be so lucky!
ReplyDeleteDitto what Marsha said! Always nice when friends can have a visit. Too bad about the grandson but maybe she could find someone else to be her POA.
ReplyDeleteSadly, there are too many stories like this about family members taking advantage of their older relatives. If she is still legally competent, perhaps she could change her POA.
ReplyDeleteYep, I agree - if she is competent, she can change her POA at anytime. Also, she should have a social worker in the facility, who is her in-house advocate. That social worker should be able to assist her, with getting clothes she wants/needs as well as some personal items. She also should be able to have an in-house account set up that she can draw on for incidentals.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, is there other family members? It also may be partly true that she doesn't remember many things, which is even more frustrating - compounded by her hearing loss. Putting things in writing may help some....
Feel free to email me if I can help in any way... that was my field for 30+ years...
All that aside, both Kathy and your mom look great!!
Those ladies look good for their age. Sorry to hear about Kathy's problems, but looks like Marti has some good advice that might be able to get her out of the situation she is in.
ReplyDeleteI bought the SX50 recently and am loving it as an all around camera to take with me when I go walking.
Your camera is only as good as your great eye. Sure enjoy your photos. Hope things balance out for your mom. Sad story about your mom's friend, but I agree they both look great for their age.
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