Dear Camilla,

You and Peter are indeed two brave people. I will be praying for you that
things work out for you.
With heartfelt prayers,
Dabu

----- Original Message -----
From: "Camilla Flintermann" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 10:07 AM
Subject: Update re: Peter's plans


> Dear Friends
> For some time things gave been unsettled, and I've not written to PIEN,
but
> now I think we are on track in planning for Peter's care.
> Some of you know that, after moving to a nursing home  (NH)by his own
> choice on May 8th, he was there only 10 days, due to a bad paranoid
> episode, and was admitted to the geriatric psych unit in a Cincinnati,
Ohio
> hospital---an hour's drive from home.
> The first goal was to stabilize and adjust his meds, in part because the
NH
> had difficulty keeping on time with his every 2 hours round the clock
> schedule.  The normal problems with a move which a  late stage PWP would
> have were of course accelerated by his increasing dementia.   He entered
> the hospital weighing 120 lbs (normal weight 145) and in the week he was
> there lost another 5 lbs, due to refusal to eat.  He also refused meds
> frequently.
> Because we had discussed his very detailed Medical Directive many times
> over the years--even before PD-- I realized he was deliberately not
eating,
> the only remaining control he had over his life, and  an indication of his
> wish not to live in that condition.  He confirmed this, and thanked me for
> understanding, and for keeping my long-time promise to respect his wishes.
> Next he was transferred to an inpatient  Hospice unit in the same
hospital,
> where he continued to regress, and at times became very agitated,
requiring
> Ativan to calm him.  His meds were changed, and  they worked for more than
> a week to stabilize him, in the hope he could return home.  I had even
> lined up aides for part-time help, along with Hospice services.
> Last Saturday it was a blow to learn that with a  diagnosis of "end stage
> dementia"  he was too  combative at times to be safely cared for at home.
> Fortunately, a bed was available in a small, homey local NH, where our
> daughters and I can visit him daily, and about which I've had many
> excellent reports.  He is to be transferred there by ambulance in
> mid-afternoon today....only 15 minutes from home.
> While the moves have added to our problems, I know the end result would
> have been the same, perhaps not so soon.  Dementia, of course, is
> incurable, and symptoms can only  at times be moderated.  We will do what
> we can......
>
> BTW-- when I learned that his Hospice diagnosis did NOT mention PD I asked
> that this be added, in the hope that more accurate statistics about PD can
> be obtained.  I suggest  this be made clear to any doctors we work with.
So
> often cause of death appears as "pneumonia" when the underlying cause was
> aspiration due to PD.
> Also, please rememnber that only about 1/3 of PWPs get dementia--it is not
> a given for everyone.
> If anyone wishes to send him a card, the address is :
>
>         Peter Flintermann, 4166 Somerville, OH  45064
>
> Thanks again for your support through all this--I hope the sharing will be
> helpful to others.
>
>
> Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 83/70/55
> Oxford, Ohio
>             <[log in to unmask]>
>
>            on the web at   http://www.geocities.com/camillahf/index.html
>            and also at
http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/genugten/flinterm.htm
>
>                "Ask me about the CARE list for Caregivers of Parkinsonians
! "
>            And visit the CARE webring at http://www.pdcaregiver.org
>
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