Differences Measured in Units
It's been a month since I moved back into unit number two, so here is a brief synopsis / evaluation / review (interesting or not)
Wait Times
or
The Fast and the Superfluous
On average, it takes an hour for someone to respond after one of us has pushed the call/help button. And on the weekends, the wait time is more commonly one and a half hours.
Back on the old unit, responses were typically made within 20 to 30 minutes.
The main reason why there's such an extensive wait time is that nobody wants to change my roommate's brief. His diaper. Whatever. It seems the aides are upset that he wants to be changed several times per day. Most of the residents (who wear diapers) are only changed a couple of times per day because they are non-communicative and do not know any better.
Additionally, my roommate drinks lots of water, which only makes matters worse.
In addition to that, several CNAs believe my roommate (could rather easily) use a urinal, if he really wanted to do so. And while I believe that may possibly be true, he's got severe neuropathy and has trouble manipulating objects.
Luckily, I do not need "help" often. And typically, I can afford to wait an hour or two before help arrives.
Icy Heat
If the air conditioning is turned on, the temperature in our room drops into the low 60s, or even below that - and the A/C never stops pumping unless … someone manually shuts it off by circumnavigating the locking mechanism.
So basically, we don't have any air conditioning in this room. Instead the temperature is more typically hovering around the 80°mark - which isn't awful, I suppose. But "warm and stuffy" only enhances the smell emanating from my roommate's unchanged urine-saturated brief.
And speaking of smells…
Flushed
I requested the toilet be fixed a couple of weeks ago. The reason? In order for the toilet bowl to empty completely, the toilet handle must be held down for up to 10 seconds. Otherwise, the content of the emptied urinal just sits in the toilet bowl all day long. And due to these forever remaining remnants, our room typically smells like piss.
With clever maneuvering and deft precision, I am able to go into the bathroom and flush the toilet myself by extending my left foot outward and then using my toes to depress the handle. So yes, I'm happy I can do things like that, but much rather spend my time doing other things besides flushing toilets.
Anyway, maintenance explained to me that several of the toilets in this unit do not flush properly, and there's nothing they can do about it.
I know I should be more grateful, not complaining about my room smelling poorly, but it seems I am in a complaining mood here and now.
Empathy
On the plus side of the ledger, the nurse's over here seem to be more empathetic. Several times (out of the blue) they've asked me how I was doing, or how I was feeling. And also, the lot of nurses (including those with the registry) more often and more consistently read the instructions pertaining to my care. So that's a plus, and in general, a good sign.
Noise
I expected it to be a lot noisier over here in Unit 2. And for the most part, it is, except for my end of the unit. Down here it's relatively quiet. And the only person who really cries out is my roommate - after he's been waiting over two hours to have his saturated brief changed.
Beyond the constant snoring, my roommate is quite pleasant (age: mid-50's). Although, his personality is quite dry, empty, and mechanical. He used to be a teacher, but now he speaks very simply. I'm thinking that he may have had a stroke. What I do know with some certainty is that he deteriorated a great deal after enduring covid-19. And he believes his current condition is explicitly caused by covid-19. But it's rather difficult to make determinations based on his current linguistic capabilities and grasp upon reality.
Anyways, I truly believe he has sleep apnea. And to make matters worse, he sleeps on his back with his legs raised higher than his head. Yes, his body is oddly situated.
In any case, he stops breathing throughout the night, and then gasps awake rather loudly with great frequency - which reminds me of my former roommate, the one who ended up getting married here. The one who accused me of stealing his money and his possessions.
He Dead
As is often the case here, that former roommate died a few days ago. I know this because his widow is going around telling everybody the story of his death. And she's also telling everybody how he was such a wonderful human being. And perhaps at some point in time, and perhaps to her (specifically), he was.
So yeah, that happened, too.
Choke
Because the residents smoke out on the patio throughout the day and into the evening, the cigarette smoke naturally wafts into our room when the window is open. But I deal with it because I rather enjoy "fresh" air and listening to chirping birds, as opposed to mechanical beeping and buzzing. It'll be too hot, too soon, anyway - and the window will be permanently shut for the summer. But for now, the hours of darkness are somewhat cool and pleasant.
Size
My portion of the room is substantially smaller, in comparison to each of my previous rooms. Basically, the space is not evenly divided. Oh well - I plan on leaving soon, right?
Other Things —-
Blood Under Pressure
Because I am on codeine now and again, and because it's getting warmer inside and out, I've been suffering from super low blood pressure. On the bright side of the ledger, I am currently ingesting sea salt - which is sorta like ingesting food!
UPDATE: the salt assault is working!
The Color of Shade
Kitchen Girl bought me a colorful rainbow umbrella that attaches to my power chair - something I can utilize once the reigning rays of sunshine become too intense here.
Nice…
Games with Frontiers
We played poker last week and I kicked butt. Yes, I actually won! And it was a lot more exciting and far more thrilling than any and all Bingo efforts combined.
We also played beach volleyball, which turned out to be rather exhausting. But also, it was quite enjoyable doing that little bit of physical activity.
Recent Pics
Be well,
Howard
It's been a month since I moved back into unit number two, so here is a brief synopsis / evaluation / review (interesting or not)
Wait Times
or
The Fast and the Superfluous
On average, it takes an hour for someone to respond after one of us has pushed the call/help button. And on the weekends, the wait time is more commonly one and a half hours.
Back on the old unit, responses were typically made within 20 to 30 minutes.
The main reason why there's such an extensive wait time is that nobody wants to change my roommate's brief. His diaper. Whatever. It seems the aides are upset that he wants to be changed several times per day. Most of the residents (who wear diapers) are only changed a couple of times per day because they are non-communicative and do not know any better.
Additionally, my roommate drinks lots of water, which only makes matters worse.
In addition to that, several CNAs believe my roommate (could rather easily) use a urinal, if he really wanted to do so. And while I believe that may possibly be true, he's got severe neuropathy and has trouble manipulating objects.
Luckily, I do not need "help" often. And typically, I can afford to wait an hour or two before help arrives.
Icy Heat
If the air conditioning is turned on, the temperature in our room drops into the low 60s, or even below that - and the A/C never stops pumping unless … someone manually shuts it off by circumnavigating the locking mechanism.
So basically, we don't have any air conditioning in this room. Instead the temperature is more typically hovering around the 80°mark - which isn't awful, I suppose. But "warm and stuffy" only enhances the smell emanating from my roommate's unchanged urine-saturated brief.
And speaking of smells…
Flushed
I requested the toilet be fixed a couple of weeks ago. The reason? In order for the toilet bowl to empty completely, the toilet handle must be held down for up to 10 seconds. Otherwise, the content of the emptied urinal just sits in the toilet bowl all day long. And due to these forever remaining remnants, our room typically smells like piss.
With clever maneuvering and deft precision, I am able to go into the bathroom and flush the toilet myself by extending my left foot outward and then using my toes to depress the handle. So yes, I'm happy I can do things like that, but much rather spend my time doing other things besides flushing toilets.
Anyway, maintenance explained to me that several of the toilets in this unit do not flush properly, and there's nothing they can do about it.
I know I should be more grateful, not complaining about my room smelling poorly, but it seems I am in a complaining mood here and now.
Empathy
On the plus side of the ledger, the nurse's over here seem to be more empathetic. Several times (out of the blue) they've asked me how I was doing, or how I was feeling. And also, the lot of nurses (including those with the registry) more often and more consistently read the instructions pertaining to my care. So that's a plus, and in general, a good sign.
Noise
I expected it to be a lot noisier over here in Unit 2. And for the most part, it is, except for my end of the unit. Down here it's relatively quiet. And the only person who really cries out is my roommate - after he's been waiting over two hours to have his saturated brief changed.
Beyond the constant snoring, my roommate is quite pleasant (age: mid-50's). Although, his personality is quite dry, empty, and mechanical. He used to be a teacher, but now he speaks very simply. I'm thinking that he may have had a stroke. What I do know with some certainty is that he deteriorated a great deal after enduring covid-19. And he believes his current condition is explicitly caused by covid-19. But it's rather difficult to make determinations based on his current linguistic capabilities and grasp upon reality.
Anyways, I truly believe he has sleep apnea. And to make matters worse, he sleeps on his back with his legs raised higher than his head. Yes, his body is oddly situated.
In any case, he stops breathing throughout the night, and then gasps awake rather loudly with great frequency - which reminds me of my former roommate, the one who ended up getting married here. The one who accused me of stealing his money and his possessions.
He Dead
As is often the case here, that former roommate died a few days ago. I know this because his widow is going around telling everybody the story of his death. And she's also telling everybody how he was such a wonderful human being. And perhaps at some point in time, and perhaps to her (specifically), he was.
So yeah, that happened, too.
Choke
Because the residents smoke out on the patio throughout the day and into the evening, the cigarette smoke naturally wafts into our room when the window is open. But I deal with it because I rather enjoy "fresh" air and listening to chirping birds, as opposed to mechanical beeping and buzzing. It'll be too hot, too soon, anyway - and the window will be permanently shut for the summer. But for now, the hours of darkness are somewhat cool and pleasant.
Size
My portion of the room is substantially smaller, in comparison to each of my previous rooms. Basically, the space is not evenly divided. Oh well - I plan on leaving soon, right?
Other Things —-
Blood Under Pressure
Because I am on codeine now and again, and because it's getting warmer inside and out, I've been suffering from super low blood pressure. On the bright side of the ledger, I am currently ingesting sea salt - which is sorta like ingesting food!
UPDATE: the salt assault is working!
The Color of Shade
Kitchen Girl bought me a colorful rainbow umbrella that attaches to my power chair - something I can utilize once the reigning rays of sunshine become too intense here.
Nice…
Games with Frontiers
We played poker last week and I kicked butt. Yes, I actually won! And it was a lot more exciting and far more thrilling than any and all Bingo efforts combined.
We also played beach volleyball, which turned out to be rather exhausting. But also, it was quite enjoyable doing that little bit of physical activity.
Recent Pics
Be well,
Howard
