My lovely wife of 55 years has been suffering from dementia for the last five or six years. Her condition deteriorated to the point where I could no longer care for her at home. I was advised to consider a nursing home for her, something I had dreaded to do for a long time. Her condition worsened at the nursing home and she refused to eat. She mentioned to me she wanted to just pass on. It was so depressing to hear her tell me that. I went home every night and just cried.
Frances Miller came to evaluate my wife when she was moved to hospice care. She immediately noticed her sore mouth and asked the nursing home staff to get some swabs, clean her mouth and apply some medicine. This small amount of care seemed to make my wife feel better. This nurse also thought my wife was depressed just sitting in her wheelchair with her head down and eyes shut so she ordered anti-depressant medication. She also thought my wife was being over-medicated and had most of her medicines taken away. This has helped tremendously.
In addition, Frances suggested moving my wife to a new nursing facility near our home and made the preparations. Immediately after my daughter and I packed her things and wheeled her out the front door, she perked up like a new person. It was like a miracle had happened. She is now eating and feeding herself with her head up, eyes wide open and smiling. She does not slump and sleep all the time. She reads the newspaper, does puzzle books, watches TV and talks with others. This had been a 100 percent turn around. If it hadn't been for Frances, my lovely wife would not be here today.
I believe an angel was sent to me in the form of Frances. She is the best of the best - an example of what all nurses should be. It's hard for me to put words of gratitude into writing. I'm now praying that my wife may be able to come home at some time. I'd love to continue taking care of her full-time, but for now I go home every night with the assurance that my lovely wife is in good hands.