24 October 2024
Hoping to catch the physical therapist again today I went over in the afternoon to the hospital and talk to Mary Ann, the patient care coordinator, and Dr. Pondicherry.
After yesterday's experience, the physical therapists consider Joyce non-compliant. So they're not willing to work with her because she's not willing to work with them. Even worse, Mary Ann said no SNF will accept her if she refuses to get out of bed. She mentioned respite care as an alternative.
Mary Ann did have Thelma the singing housecleaner come in to sign to Joyce to cheer her up.
Dr. Pondicherry however made it a point to come back later to try to help Joyce get to the side of the bed again to see if she will progress from yesterday.
Joyce didn't want to move. So we cajoled and she managed to get to the edge of the mattress before falling back. "You don't understand!" she screamed. "I can't do it!!
Dr. Pondicherry pointed out screaming won't help and we're there to help her do it. But we failed to convince her.
"I'm ready to die," she said.
She refused to eat lunch, which was just egg salad, some bread, tomato soup and a protein drink. I cut the bread up. Put the egg salad on. It told her to dip the bread in the tomato soup but she wouldn't.
Not eating, not moving. A very sad day.