So after ringing the doorbell 3 times I rang the ground floor nurses station from my mobile and fortunately one of the kitchen staff picked up the phone and then came and let me in. Fortunately she knows me from when I visited pre COVID. Temperature taken, signed all the paperwork, hand gel, apron, mask more hand gel, gloves and into the quarantine area I go. Nice agency Carer sees me (she is just in the lounge) and calls to Mum ‘B is here to see you’ Happy Mum comes walking down the corridor and we meet outside her room. She goes to give me a hug but I saw unfortunately that is not allowed but we can hold hands and she seems happy with that. Carer tells me that Mum had decided she wanted to stay in her pj’s and cardi and then heads off to get coffees for us (only one other person in quarantine) and me and Mum sit in her room and start chatting nonsense. Carer pops back with coffee. Mum tells me she is a bit cold so I say lets swap the cardi for a nice warm jumper and I manage to change the pj top for a clean tea shirt at the same time. Thinking I am on a good run I suggest some warmer trousers (picking out a pair I know she really like) and some socks. I am not very good at this changing and dressing lark and struggle getting her sock on. I tell her I should have had some children to practice on as they are more flexible and she laughs. I also tell I will be glad when she has her cast removed so she can do it herself (need to find out if she still can or not) So Mum now in clothes, although not showered, so feeling well pleased with myself (I am just not a naturally caring person and coming from a non touchy/huggy family I struggle with this stuff)
I took in a ‘reminiscing’ newspaper (duly quarantined and sanitised at home) and we had a look at that together which kept her attention for a while and we joked about her hair looking like Einstein’s and hopefully that the hairdresser would be allowed in soon.
I asked her if I should help her brush her hair as it was a bit messy from when ‘we’ had put her jumper on. She said yes please so after finding the ‘sacred hiding’ place of the hair brush we/I started brushing it only to find that somehow she had toothpaste in her hair. Not very noticeable being the same colour as her hair. Thank goodness for PPE and the gloves - they held the water nicely so I could get it onto Mum’s hair to get the toothpaste out. Mum was not particularly happy at this point as she is worried I am going to get her face wet (if only, as it could have done with a wash too) I stop whilst I am ahead - dry the hair and finish brushing it. So the 2 hours are up and I let the Carer know I am leaving as I take Mum back up to the lounge. Carer had some activities for Mum to do as well this afternoon so she will probably be worn out this evening. Mind you Mum did tell me in one of her moments of clarity that the Carer talks to much and she wished she would ‘shut up’ sometimes. PPE removed and disposed off appropriately but then I found the door I am meant to exit from was locked so I ‘snook’ out the entrance- just hope they don’t watch the CCTV later.
another good visit and the seed potatoes are planted in my veg plot this afternoon. So I think an early night for me too.
