Post-Op - Where to convalesce and get better?

I had a great long conversation with our son (with the hip fracture) today. He called from Brooklyn’s Kings County Hospital. His opinion is that he wants to convalesce at our Ansonia abode, which I agree would be the safest alternative. 

Since I use a power wheelchair, the house is much better for someone who has to safer to move around in There are a few reasons that makes the most sense : 

1) He works remotely for his Canadian employer with a company furnished laptop and phone that means…he can work anywhere.

2) Our house is a ranch and we have laminate floors with no obstructions 

3) Our house has a ramp into the house with an ADA 1:12 slope ramp and 36” wide doors; 

4) It has a full ADA bathroom with a 5-ft turn radius, a tall toilet and a roll-in shower with full width shower bench; 

As for his apartment in the Ditmas section of Brooklyn: 

1) He has a tiny bathroom with a tub, low toilet - and about 15 sq. ft of floor to move on - crutches are not welcome. 

2) The building was built in 1927 - if the one elevator failed, how would he get to the third floor when he cannot bear weight on his right side and thus not be able to use the stairs. 

I advised him that he has to advise the hospital social workers that he has to come back to Ansonia because otherwise it will not be a ‘Safe Discharge’. 

And it cannot occur until at least Saturday when Allegra and I can drive to the borough of Kings and she can get items out of his apartment while I artfully double park in the meantime :)

Remember the term ‘Safe Discharge’…I’ve seen terrible discharge plans at nursing homes when I worked MFP, so I advised that he use the term ‘Safe Discharge’ often when he’s speaking to the hospital staff. When you do that, you are telling them you are an informed consumer. 

I also suggested he ask the social worker to let read his discharge plan as it currently exists and as it is updated. It has to be safe…

The hospital has to advise that his follow-up care be in Connecticut. I would imagine that insurance would allow this - but he should go back to the safe discharge and local doctors can deal with the follow-up. 

Appeal the insurer if necessary.I see Cam making the best case. If not, I’ll drive him to Brooklyn for appointments, but that shouldn’t happen.

Every other detail that needs to be attended to up here can easily be done. Being a great self-advocate is a great place to be!

Ruby Tuesday Too - Grand Reopening

Ruby Tuesday Too highlights one of our favorite colors, Red. Last Friday in Ansonia, a great Ansonia lighting store, Valley Lighting and Home Decor. after a renovation. Outside and in, there is plenty of red - and this makes us want to replace many a light fixture in our home...and this looks like the place! We featured  it today in our Valley-Voice newsletter. Red is as red does!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Urban Bucolic

For this week's Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I look at our neighbor to the north, Seymour CT. The lower Naugatuck Valley has been very industrial, but you'd never know it in On top, we see the river looking east from Derby Avenue; below from the Broad Street Bridge. I chose bucolic as that is how it feels - if we don't look too hard, the urban disappears completely...

Friday Hunt 2017.2.15

The seasonal weather is changing, but not the fun Friday meme Friday Hunt, hosted by Teresa.

Starts with ‘O’. I have a few and some could be linked to a city or town too. The first is Ohio, and in this shot, probably taken in 1977 is Grandpa holding two license plates from 1937 (40th year?), his Ohio license tag and I believe his Ohio radio license. Grandpa was 75 in 1977 who lived in the city of Steubenville, Ohio…

Then there is Omaha, Nebraska. First, my sister Michele in 1964 (age 10) who with my grandparents visited My Aunt Terry in the Missouri River city.

Another Omaha shot was taken by me in 1983 visiting my sister who was in the USAF (SAC HDQ., Offutt AFB). Unknown to me, two houses away was a park at President Gerald Ford’s birthplace. Just a little neighborhood park that was a great find...

Purple. Two with a purple hue (to my mind at least :). First pic was taken at the Jones Family Farm Winery in Shelton CT. Nice lavender flowers.

This one was taken on our patio this summer. I can’t explain it, the the wine bottle in the late afternoon is a pic Patti and I love - perhaps it was a warm but not humid day with a tasty grilled meat and red wine just relaxing on a great day. The label on the bottle looks purple. Nice prompts this week!

Wordless Wednesday - Urban Sunset

We live in shall town Ansonia CT, much of it old (the newest downtown building on Main St.was built in 1989). However, the old rooflines, chimneys and utility poles nicely accent the brilliant autumnal sunset on Saturday.See more WW at NC Sue!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Local

Vendors at the Ansonia Harvest Festival last Saturday. 

Bell at First Baptist Church, Ansonia

Geese having a conversation on the Housatonic River, Derby

The start of last week's 5K for The  Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, Derby

It has been a busy week with the Ansonia Harvest Festival last Saturday and work in the way. But now I am back for the fun meme Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Today, I am staying local and looking for shadows and finding a few. We can find many a shadow in nearby environs - we merely have to take a peek...

Friday Hunt 2017.2.14

After a busy week, it is good to be back ate Teresa's fun meme, Friday Hunt. I am follow the prompts so now I am ready :) Some may have been used in other memes, but fits today's meme themes nicely :)

Starts with 'N'. First is Northern Boulevard in the borough of Queens in the City of New York

 Of course, there is Nikon...

Finally, there is the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. For an small city, this is a gem, a community place of animals, playground, woods and soccer fields only five minutes from home.

Sky. Patti captured this wonderful sky view on Wednesday. The cross is a wonderful feature of this sky scene.

Silhouette. This would be me in 1999 with my silhouette from the bridge of my nose to my chin. It's great to be back this week!