Monarch Butterfly Photo by S. Watson
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
It is the beginning days of spring of 2015, and we are so happy to see some Monarch caterpillars on the milkweed plants in our yard.
If you are reading this blog for the first time, please take a few moments and scroll down to the first blog. The first blog and subsequent blogs talk about Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in elderly people and how serious a health challenge UTIs can become.
When we left off Grandma’s story, which took place in November of 2013, she had been in rehab for over 21 days. She was doing a great job in physical therapy and the therapists stated that she would be going home soon. She was able to walk with a walker and was alert and voicing her wish to go home. In fact, we had already spoken to the facility’s social worker and they were preparing her exit paperwork. Grandma’s appetite had been down for the entire time that she stayed in the rehab center. We thought the weight loss could be due to the change in food and/or the side effects of the medicines. Friends and family were usually present at each meal to encourage her to eat and drink. Two days from her designated date to go home, the nurse on duty told me that she had a bout of diarrhea over night and that the doctor had been notified. He had a stool sample taken which was being tested. She told me not to worry.
On the morning of December 6th, 2013, I arrived at 8:00 a.m. to help Grandma with her breakfast as usual. Her roommate stated that Grandma had been moved across the hall. She didn’t know why. When I went across the hall, I saw a table outside the room with gloves, masks and paper gowns and I saw a sign on her room’s door that said “STOP! Take Precautions”. When I went to the main desk and asked the LPN about Grandma and the sign on her room’s door she stated that Grandma’s stool sample was positive for Clostridium difficile (C-diff) and that the doctor would answer any questions that I had when he came in that evening. When the doctor arrived he gave me information about C-diff. He said because of her advanced age and the use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, she was susceptible to getting C-diff if she was exposed to the bacteria. He said that C-diff is a very serious infection in the elderly and that it is also a very serious infection in young children.
He was the first one who gave me instructions about what to do to protect Grandma and myself. He had me practice the correct way to put on the gown, gloves, and masks that were available. He also demonstrated the proper way to remove the garments and gloves and told me to dispose of them in the biohazard trash bag, which was available in the room. He showed me how to properly wash my hands. In addition, he stated that shoe covers should be available and worn because C-diff can get on the floor and then get onto the bottom of your shoes. If it does get onto your shoes, you could take the bacteria into your own house. In fact, C-diff can stay alive on clothing, bed rails, and other objects for months. The room needed to be cleaned with special cleaners and Grandma’s laundry had to be done separately from the other residents.
I had been at the rehab center all day and no one at the rehab center had shown me or told me about the protective protocol necessary when dealing with C-diff. The first appointment I could get to speak to the Director of Nursing was the next day at 2:00 in the afternoon. I am very grateful to Grandma’s dedicated doctor for taking the time to show me the correct procedures I should use and for talking to me about the necessary precautions I should take while dealing with this life-threatening disease. C-diff is highly contagious and easily spread. I have a son at home who has a weak immune system and a seizure disorder. The doctor had a new baby at his home. He was very caring about my family situation and understandably wanted to protect his family as well.
That night I called a friend who knew a private CNA who had cared for her mother in the same facility that Grandma was in. I hired the recommended CNA and she was there with my mom from 8 to 3 each day. I came every evening to make certain that Grandma ate her dinner and I stayed until she went to sleep for the night. Family friends wanted to continue to come to visit but I told them Grandma had a contagious disease and that she could not have visitors. I asked them to please pray for her.
The CNA began a notebook on her first day. Utilizing a notebook was her idea so that we could have a WRITTEN RECORD and communicate with each other about Grandma’s diet, her vital signs and other important information.
Our education about C-diff. had begun.
If you are reading this blog for the first time, please take a few moments and scroll down to the first blog. The first blog and subsequent blogs talk about Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in elderly people and how serious a health challenge UTIs can become.
When we left off Grandma’s story, which took place in November of 2013, she had been in rehab for over 21 days. She was doing a great job in physical therapy and the therapists stated that she would be going home soon. She was able to walk with a walker and was alert and voicing her wish to go home. In fact, we had already spoken to the facility’s social worker and they were preparing her exit paperwork. Grandma’s appetite had been down for the entire time that she stayed in the rehab center. We thought the weight loss could be due to the change in food and/or the side effects of the medicines. Friends and family were usually present at each meal to encourage her to eat and drink. Two days from her designated date to go home, the nurse on duty told me that she had a bout of diarrhea over night and that the doctor had been notified. He had a stool sample taken which was being tested. She told me not to worry.
On the morning of December 6th, 2013, I arrived at 8:00 a.m. to help Grandma with her breakfast as usual. Her roommate stated that Grandma had been moved across the hall. She didn’t know why. When I went across the hall, I saw a table outside the room with gloves, masks and paper gowns and I saw a sign on her room’s door that said “STOP! Take Precautions”. When I went to the main desk and asked the LPN about Grandma and the sign on her room’s door she stated that Grandma’s stool sample was positive for Clostridium difficile (C-diff) and that the doctor would answer any questions that I had when he came in that evening. When the doctor arrived he gave me information about C-diff. He said because of her advanced age and the use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, she was susceptible to getting C-diff if she was exposed to the bacteria. He said that C-diff is a very serious infection in the elderly and that it is also a very serious infection in young children.
He was the first one who gave me instructions about what to do to protect Grandma and myself. He had me practice the correct way to put on the gown, gloves, and masks that were available. He also demonstrated the proper way to remove the garments and gloves and told me to dispose of them in the biohazard trash bag, which was available in the room. He showed me how to properly wash my hands. In addition, he stated that shoe covers should be available and worn because C-diff can get on the floor and then get onto the bottom of your shoes. If it does get onto your shoes, you could take the bacteria into your own house. In fact, C-diff can stay alive on clothing, bed rails, and other objects for months. The room needed to be cleaned with special cleaners and Grandma’s laundry had to be done separately from the other residents.
I had been at the rehab center all day and no one at the rehab center had shown me or told me about the protective protocol necessary when dealing with C-diff. The first appointment I could get to speak to the Director of Nursing was the next day at 2:00 in the afternoon. I am very grateful to Grandma’s dedicated doctor for taking the time to show me the correct procedures I should use and for talking to me about the necessary precautions I should take while dealing with this life-threatening disease. C-diff is highly contagious and easily spread. I have a son at home who has a weak immune system and a seizure disorder. The doctor had a new baby at his home. He was very caring about my family situation and understandably wanted to protect his family as well.
That night I called a friend who knew a private CNA who had cared for her mother in the same facility that Grandma was in. I hired the recommended CNA and she was there with my mom from 8 to 3 each day. I came every evening to make certain that Grandma ate her dinner and I stayed until she went to sleep for the night. Family friends wanted to continue to come to visit but I told them Grandma had a contagious disease and that she could not have visitors. I asked them to please pray for her.
The CNA began a notebook on her first day. Utilizing a notebook was her idea so that we could have a WRITTEN RECORD and communicate with each other about Grandma’s diet, her vital signs and other important information.
Our education about C-diff. had begun.
For more information about C-diff including causes, symptoms and typical treatment please see this information from Mayo clinic.
C. difficile infection
For the latest update about C-diff, see this recent article in Scientific American
CDC report focused on the Clostridium difficile bacterium
C. difficile infection
For the latest update about C-diff, see this recent article in Scientific American
CDC report focused on the Clostridium difficile bacterium