What a Super Bowl this one was! The Forty Ninth game was what many are calling the best in history and I have to agree. Of course, as a Patriot’s fan there is much to celebrate.
My viewing of this year’s Super Bowl started from the kitchen where I was just putting the finishing touches on a coffee cake and turning to place it in the pre-heated, 350 degree oven. I could see the pre-game hype going on in the living room from where I worked and I was looking forward to sitting down in a moment for some pre-game chips and dip when my phone rang.
Coffee cake in the oven I picked up the phone to find the nurse from assisted living on the other end reporting that my father was not feeling well. Blood pressure was too high and he was not walking well. Probably best if I took him to the emergency room.
No problem. I charge my husband Randy with taking the coffee cake out in 50 minutes but only after checking for firmness. He panics only slightly as he is not really a baker and this, to him, constitutes baking. He can do this and I pick up my red, white and blue pompoms and cheer him on just before I leave.
In 2011 27% of seniors over 75 visited the emergency room. 40% of those seniors were admitted to the hospital, and 6% of those went to the ICU. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/geriatrics/provision_of_care_to_the_elderly/hospital_care_and_the_elderly.html
The reasons for emergency room visits by seniors range from injuries and accidents, chest pain, stroke, urinary tract infections, to pneumonia. And the average emergency room visit will last 5-6 hours. Despite being some of the biggest frequenters of the emergency room, the emergency room is not necessarily set up for seniors. The beds are too high, the rooms too cold, and lighting can be challenging for those with the vision changes of the aging.
Confusion is increased in the emergency room. And for those with any dementia, misleading answers can be given to important questions, leading to more tests or missed information. For this reason, a family member’s presence in the emergency room can save time and tests. If someone familiar with the patient is not available, a quick cognitive test should be performed so that it can be determined if the patient is able to give accurate information.
My father had pneumonia. The emergency room staff knew quickly that they were going to admit him and the respiratory therapists said it would be to ICU given his need for so much oxygen. We arrived in the emergency room right at kick off and 5 hours later we were settling into ICU. Everyone was wearing Patriot’s t-shirts, doctors and nurses included.
My father’s nurse in ICU had a remarkable inner strength. In that I mean that throughout the gathering of her patient’s history she did not turn around to watch the game once. She was reassuring to my father and to me, letting us know that she would help get him out of ICU as quickly as possible because no patient is able to rest in ICU. It wasn’t until the 2 minute warning and my asking her how on earth she was not watching the game that she finally turned around-first stating “I’m trying really hard to be a good nurse.”
As you all know, Malcolm Butler intercepted, all was good in New England. My father’s nurse did as promised and had him quickly on the road to recovery. And the coffee cake turned out perfect.