Dad's Move 11-28-10

Hello to you all!

This week my big news about Dad is his move to a new care facility.

Here's the address:
Art City Nursing & Rehab
321 E. 800 S.
Springville, UT 84663

My news about his move comes from my brother John.

He was moved to this facility a week ago Thurs. My sister Martha was with him while they moved him out of the old facility and into the new one. Dad took the move very calmly and seemed unfazed by it--Martha was exhausted afterwards, having spent five hours with Dad during the move. The staff at the new facility intentionally put Dad in a room close to the nursing station because of his tendency to try to get up without assistance.

As far as John knows, this facility doesn't have visiting hours either--it's just come when you like. John noted that the staff didn't seem bothered that the family got there just as dinner was ending on Thursday.

Some of the staff members are the same--they came from the other facility to this one also; Johns says that those they interacted with seemed very nice.

For any of you who want to visit, John says there's parking on west side of building.

John also reported that they visited Dad on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day--John, his wife, Elaine, daughters Marie and Lisa, and Court--Lisa's fiance. My sister Martha and her husband, Dave, and their "local crew." They sang Christmas songs for Dad, and he joined in the singing several times, obviously enjoying it very much. (Singing Christmas carols on Thanksgiving Day is a long-standing Craig tradition.)

Now my own news of Dad:

I phoned Dad's new facility today and was able to talk to him for a few minutes.

Dad's speech today was somewhat slurred. We used to worry about that quite a bit, but it's something that seems to come and go and doesn't seem to indicate anything being seriously wrong.

When I asked Dad how he liked his new place, he said, "New place?" I guess it's good he's not aware because it means he won't have to go through much of an adjustment.

I told him that we'd gotten together in Pittsburgh with my sister Christie and her husband, Duane, along with my brother Alan and his wife, Janice, my niece Britta (Lucy's daughter) from Harrisburg and her husband and two girls, Christie's daughter Ruth and her husband and their daughter, and Christie's son Jonathan. His response was something like, "Oh, my!"

I told him I was coming to Utah to go to Lisa's wedding in December. I had to tell him she's John's daughter for him to understand who I was talking about. Again an "Oh my!" (But both times a quite expressive "Oh my"!)

I told Dad I made whole wheat wafers with my grandson, Jeffrey, today. Dad said, "Oh," and clicked his tongue. I was hoping he'd recognize the name of the wafer, an old family favorite, but it didn't sound like he did.

I told him that I've changed the recipe to make it healthy and less sweet, so it tasted like soft hardtack--he chuckled. But I commented that Jeffrey and I had fun cutting out shapes. He said something like, "Well, that sounds fun."

I ended the conversation by saying I wanted to let him know I was thinking of him, and he said, "I think of you every day." Whether he does or not, he still certainly knows how to be gracious and loving to whoever he's speaking to!

I appreciate hearing from those who read the blog, and I appreciate your love and concern for Dad.

We hope those of you in the area will pop in on Dad at his new address, tell him a story or two, and sign the visitors' book.

Happy Holidays, everyone!