Same Song, Second Verse

I am on a merry-go-round and cannot seem to get off.

Today, I went to see my dad at the long term acute care (LTAC) hospital he's currently staying in. I specifically went to give him a haircut since he's soooo shaggy.

When I got there and worked on cutting his hair, the cradle cap on his bald head (it's NOT like the workers couldn't see see!) was SO bad that I wanted to be sick. I left the room and found the head of nursing. I asked her to come to Daddy's room. I showed her his head and the towel I was using to try to clean his head. I told her that Daddy should NOT have to be that dirty. I told her in no uncertain terms that I wanted his hair shampooed. I told her I was NOT happy.

I also asked her to find out from the wound care nurse if Daddy could take a shower. She reported that the wound care nurse said he COULD shower as long as the nurses redress his wounds. I told her I wanted Daddy showered and his head shampooed today.

Well, the tech. came by the room and said since Daddy had already had a sponge bath today, she would shampoo his hair, but would save the shower for Thursday.

What is it about the people who work in these facilities that make them blind (and unable to smell) to the state of the patients?

And on top of it all, I think my mom is getting sick. She was so exhausted that she could not go to the LTAC today. She sounds like she's getting sick. She's doing too much and doesn't have time to take care of herself. I cannot be all things to all people. I'd just like to have my sibling show up and pitch in and help care for our parents. Oh well....

Daddy is to have a CT scan of his abdomen tomorrow to see if the infection is gone. I hope and pray that it is. Then we can work on strengthening him and get him out of the LTAC.

Who'd have ever thought that an appendectomy would lead to all of this?