May Walentiny

May Walentiny- our mom, grandma, great grandma and friend turned 94 earlier this month. For Mom, the pandemic has been tough especially with limited visitors to keep her safe, social and her mind active. She also has several ongoing health issues. During this time my brother Mark and I (Marie) have provided a lot of care and support daily to help her stay safe and healthy all while being able to remain at home.

Last week, Mom fell, hit her head and bruised her ribs. Since then, she’s had some pain and dizziness, and it has brought to the forefront that she is slowing down. Since the fall, it’s apparent someone needs to be with her around the clock as as she’s no longer steady on her feet. Her appetite has also shrunk in recent months, and she’s no longer confident moving around independently. Due to weight loss, low appetite, and other health concerns, we brought in Ecumen Hospice Care services. The hospice team is providing a lot of amazing support including personal care, nursing services and medication management to make sure she isn’t in pain. A bed has been moved into the dining room so that she can be comfortable while seeing visitors, and get out of her bedroom during the day. Family members are providing most of her care- Mark is there, I’m (Marie) there during the day when she doesn’t have a visitor and for overnights, and Peggy, Danielle and Joanie have been helping out during the day. There is not a clear prognosis or timeline, however we know that our time with Mom is likely short…

What she wants most is to feel connected to the people she loves and who love her. This can be done in many ways- you can leave a note, photo, or memory here and we’ll share those with her daily. Her memory is still sharp, especially when talking about her past. Recent events are not sticking, or she may seem confused. She’s still taking phone calls. Close family and friends are welcome for a visit- please call the house to make sure she is up for visitors that day, as too many people seem to wear her out. Obviously, we’re also still dealing with a pandemic so keeping both Mom and her caregivers safe is a priority as well so masks and safe social distancing are important.

There has been some coordinating of meals which is very appreciated. She eats very little but it’s great to have available for when she is hungry and for those of us around helping her. She likes pudding, graham crackers, and dilly bars right now. Our main goals with this page are to keep people in the loop on how she is doing and to be able to share with her all the love we all have for her. Please let us know if you have any questions, and please keep the pictures and memories coming! We will keep posting updates here in journal entries.