SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION

June 27, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

I recently read that dehydration is a hidden risk to the elderly.  I don't think I had heard that before.  Tam said she guessed she had heard it most of her life.  She has been urging me to drink more water.  It is often due partly to inadequate water intake but can happen for many other reasons.

The article went on to say elders may not feel thirst as keenly.  Scientists warn that the ability to be aware of and respond to thirst is slowly blunted as we age.  This increases the chances of them consuming less water and consequently suffering dehydration.

Everyone knows, but many people seem to forget, that water is what sustains life.  Those caring for elderly persons should watch for these signs of dehydration.

Mild dehydration: Dryness of mouth, dry tongue with thick saliva.  Unable to urinate or pass small amounts of dark yellow urine.  Cramping limbs.  Headaches.  Crying with few or no tears.  Weakness, general feeling of being unwell.  Sleepiness or irritability.

More serious dehydration:  Low blood pressure.  Convulsions.  Severe cramping and muscle contractions in limbs, back and stomach.  Bloated stomach.  Rapid but weak pulse.  Dry and sunken eyes with few or no tears.  Wrinkled skin, no elasticity.  Breathing faster than normal.

Serious dehydration requires medical attention.  If you see any of these signs, or suspect, call the doctor.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Typed and edited by Tam.)

I'VE HAD BETTER WEEKENDS

June 21, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

Following a hectic weekend, I am taking awhile to get back to normal today.  I was quite sick - a stomach virus - over the past weekend.  I don't remember much about it, except that it was awful.

Over the weekend Barry took care of me and did an excellent job.  He tried to do everything he could to make me as comfortable as possible.  I don't know what I would have done without him.

I have an appointment with my primary care doctor soon.  Tam has a list of things we need to discuss with her.  As I said earlier, I don't remember much from the weekend, just a blur of trips to my bathroom.  Perhaps that is for the best.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Edited and typed by Tam.)

FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

June 13, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

This month (June) Tam and I celebrate our 5th anniversary together.  My husband had passed away in 2002, after a long illness (Parkinson) and the following year I started writing this blog.  That helped to lift my spirits but I was still tired and run down from the years of caring for my husband and was needing some part time help.  I wrote about my situation in my blog.  Later, my sister, Jeanette, called me and began praising the woman who had done some work for her, and how pleased she was with her.  So, I set up an appointment to meet and interview this woman named "Tam". (I was thinking she must be saying Pam as I had never before heard the name.  It is short for Tambra.)

The morning of the interview, on a Friday, I greeted Tam for the appointment promptly at the time we had agreed on.  Barring an emergency Tam has always been on time for work, a quality I admire.

When we were seated in the den, there seemed to be a special rapport between us, and we had a good conversation.  I felt sure I wanted to hire her that day.  I told her I needed to talk to Barry and I would call her the next day.  She would work 4 hours per day.  When Barry came home, he listened while I told him about Tam.  He said I needed to hire her as I might never see anyone else like her.  So, the next morning I called and asked her to come in on Monday.  She seemed pleased and when she came to the house, I took her on a tour of our house.

I needed for her to prepare a light lunch for me which she did.  Soon , she came an hour earlier and now is here a full day.  She is not only a caregiver but my personal assistant.  She takes care of so much of my personal business, also taking and making calls for me as I'm hearing impaired.  I fully trust her and we have become dear friends.  She takes me to my doctor appointments and communicates with them on my behalf.

She does some housework for me and took it upon herself to re-arrange the files in my office and has everything efficient now.  She does all my typing and editing as I am not able to type due to arthritis.  Thank you Tam.

Tam's view:  I met Olivene about the same time my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  I was only able to work part time as I was also taking care of mom.  Olivene is the sweetest, most kind and sincere woman I know.  She is so easy to take care of and very appreciative of everything I do.  She is like a mother to me as I have now lost my mom and my dad.  I would be totally lost without her in my life.  Thank you Olivene, I love you dearly.  I pray we have many more years together.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Typed and edited by Tam.)

THE MANY COLORS OF MY HAIR

June 6, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

I am writing this blog on a Sunday afternoon, a spring day, with intervals of much needed rain showers.  I would have liked to be on a kind of holiday but don't feel too chipper today.

I am going to have Tam make me an appointment with my eye doctor in the morning.  For several days, I have had trouble with reading, especially the morning newspaper.  Today, I am wearing a pair of "drug store" reading glasses which help me read fairly well.  I've had three eye surgeries in the past and should only need a prescription for new lens for my glass frames.  I also need to have my eyes examined for any diseases.

On another subject, which isn't ultra important, I want to tell you about the color of my hair now in my eighties.  No one seems to know what color it is.

When I had my hair cut by Carrie, Tam's daughter, a few days ago, Tam asked her what color she thought my hair was, and she replied, "I don't know".  Looking back over the years my hair has been several colors.  As a young child my pictures show my hair color was a dark shade until I was about six years old then pictures show it was a blonde shade, playing a "Shirley Temple" doll in a school play.

My hair was a blonde shade with a tinge of auburn high lights when I married in 1947.  In my middle age my hair was a dark auburn.  Over the years it has turned to the "mystery shade" it is now.  It isn't completely gray but it is a light shade.

Several times over the years I have used hair color but haven't in many years.  So, since the color grew off it returned to it's normal "mystery shade".

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Edited and typed by Tam.)