So far so good *knock wood*

[missdiane]

I wasn't roused by kitties last night and so I slept pretty hard for two several hour stretches. No barfing and JuneBug hasn't pooed in the box at all yet today (hoping I don't get the opposite effect as that's not much better but lets not go there, shall we?). The boy finally did a small poo of his own, though that needs to improve or he gets his own fun trip in the carrier.

The girl hid from me when I was getting the antibiotic ready. Not surprised, though she hid for over an hour so clearly I'm not going to be able to give one of the two daily doses before work. Instead I'll shoot for 11am and 10 or 11pm if I can manage it. When I finally wrangled her for her dose, it was sloppy and didn't get all of it in her mouth but we tried. The fact that the tummy 'splosions have stopped means one or both of the meds are working. She needs the antibiotic to sort out her sludgy gallbladder and the pancreas issues it caused so we'll just have to keep on trying.

In other goings on, anyone have suggestions for fresh or otherwise more substantial food that can be mailed? Dad is not happy with the quality or the portion size of the food at the facility lately. I sent him snacks from nuts.com as well as there's a Target order for more Keurig supplies and fruit cups and such but since Sis is running under the misperception that he can ask for food whenever he wants, she's not getting him food anymore. I'm pondering maybe a Harry and David fruit/cheese basket for an early Easter present. Also thinking of some finding some Cup of Soup pouches to mail since he can dispense hot water from the Keurig. He doesn't have access to a microwave or anything like that.

Comments

[spiffikins]

Can you set up an instacart delivery for him? That would give you more options? Some grocery stores do home delivery themselves as well I think?

Cup noodles?

Would one of those things like you had for lunches - the wee little plug-in cooker, work for him? He could heat up cans of soup or stew?

My friend had one in university - the old school "hot pot" - https://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-48507-Hot-WHITE/dp/B07BN67KJM - basically a standard kettle, but the lid came off and you could use it like a plug-in pot.

[missdiane]

When they were in their apartment, I used to have groceries delivered but the problem is I don’t think that they could take the things directly to his room and so that might be an issue. Also, while he’s allowed a Keurig, I don’t think he would be allowed anything like a hot pot.

I was thinking cup noodles or cup pouches. If I got him a small insulated mug, that might do an even better job of keeping the water hot enough to cook it better. He does have instant oatmeal.

[spiffikins]

It's too bad there isn't a microwave in a common area that residents can use - I wonder if that's something you can mention to your contact there - I could see a lot of residents wanting to make popcorn or something?

What about crackers and tuna - they have pouches of tuna/chicken that are flavoured, so you don't have to have mayo or anything to mix in? And crackers like triscuits or ritz would work well? You don't want him to have tuna daily - apparently that's not recommended due to mercury or whatever is bad - but a couple times a week would be ok?

How much hot water can the keurig make? Any of those pouches of precooked "nuke for 90 seconds" lentils or dhals or rice - if you can submerge them into hot water, it will heat them up pretty reasonably.

peanut butter and honey and wasa crisps or saltines? I keep my jam in the fridge these days - but growing up, our jam stayed in the cupboard and we didn't die :D

Nature Valley granola bars - they have protein ones that are good, in addition to regular granola bars.

EDIT: not cheap, but not ridiculously expensive - self-heating mres - https://www.omeals.com/ - they come out to $10-12 each - which is a cheap restaurant meal, but not really cheap enough that you'd want to do them a lot, probably?

[missdiane]

I can't remember what his feelings are about tuna or chicken salad. He has a mini-fridge so I could send him mayo. I also used to eat these ages ago and totally forgot about them!
https://www.target.com/p/starkist-lunch-to-go-chunk-light-tuna-kit-4-1oz/-/A-13526090#lnk=sametab

Dad does love PB. On his nuts.com order, one of the things I got him was a pretzel mix of which one was PB filled. Also, on the Target order that's on the way, I got this for him and told him that I want to hear how they are since they look good lol
https://www.target.com/p/plum-organics-jammy-sammy-peanut-butter---38--strawberry---5ct-1-02oz-each/-/A-54520596

By the end of this week, he'll get some fruit cups (I get the ones in juice since he doesn't like things that are super sweet) and some strawberry applesauce (which he LOVES) and I told him I want his opinion on these that I got him
https://www.target.com/p/noka-superfood-smoothies-super-berry---immune-support---16-9oz-4pk/-/A-89812070

I was wondering about the self-cooking foods since I watch things like DancingBacons who has tried out several of the Asian ones. Honestly, I'd be concerned that he'd burn himself. He's not too with-it nowadays.

Some of the things that Sis used to get him were lunchables and I also had them get him hummus snack packs which he really liked. I think that there might be some shelf-stable hummus somewhere so might have to ponder that. I think in the meantime, I'll send him a small but fancy Harry and David gift. I want him to get good healthy things in him, especially since there are nights that they don't give much at the meals.

[spiffikins]

Oh a mini fridge helps for sure!

Those jammy sammy's look yummy, honestly :D

It might be worth asking that woman who is in charge, if it's feasible to have delivery via doordash or instacart - surely other people are ordering food, even occasionally?

Has your dad mentioned to anyone there that he wants more to eat? I'm sure they are portioning food for the average bird-like appetite of many seniors - but there have to be other people who have hearty appetites? Maybe he can get 2 meals? I remember the one time I was at a fancy all-inclusive resort - and I watched more than one person order 2 entrees for themselves, because they were so freaking small!

[missdiane]

I thought those Jammy Sammy things looked SO good too!

I'd heard from Dad a while ago that they'd gotten a new bigger capacity vehicle to take more than 3 or 4 people on trips. They had been going to Kroger and stuff before winter so I'm hoping they start again soon. Then he can go on his OWN trips to the grocery and pick out fresh stuff. Then it won't be an issue.

I don't know if there's new people or what but they will quite literally RUN OUT OF FOOD sometimes. They do rotate who gets food first and one night it was supposed to be BLTs and by the time it got to Dad, all they had was bread and bacon and the next woman quite literally got a handful of bacon for dinner. I told Dad to complain and if it doesn't improve soon, I'm going to bitch about it too. He's too damned skinny.

[spiffikins]

all they had was bread and bacon and the next woman quite literally got a handful of bacon for dinner.

that is fucking ridiculous! all the residents need to be complaining about that kind of shit!

[threecee]

The tuna and other fish pouches are shelf-stable so no refrigeration is required until they are opened. There may be other foods like that too. I get shelf-stable soy milk all the time so I can buy smaller containers and only open them when needed because they last longer unopened. They have cows milk in the same kind of packaging these days too.

[missdiane]

I was wondering about the shelf stable milk. I've had the shelf stable nut and coconut milks and they aren't too bad.

He was smart yesterday and was at least able to request to change his breakfast from his usual cereal back to the eggs and bacon and since he doesn't like turkey and the evening meal was turkey melts, he got a bowl of cereal and I was glad they also included a banana.

[bluecatartist]

Fingers crossed some of the cat digestive woes have calmed for at least a bit.

Man, these places - feeding seniors is so important but having options for snacking seems to be not their thing. And as you are finding out, you have to stay on top of it all the time. Your sister not putting in any effort... I don't know. You're coming up w. options he has control of, that will help him feel better and have a few more choices. He's doing amazing for what he's been through in recent years and w. the loss of your mom, settling into a new place on his own, and his age. There's small support to help him do better and have some quality of life. Him being hungry...he can fall into not eating and more weight loss is serious when/if there's a health issue come up.

Mother in law was in the nursing home area, not assisted living side, couldn't do her own snacks anyway, but when we'd missed a meal bc of an ER visit, there was no food for her! The caferteria did nothing in between. Ass't living could have snackes and had microwaves. Her diet was restricted or we'd have stopped for a burger or something. We'd taken her to the ER for UTI again, instead of an ambulance.
Finally one of the cafeteria workers came up w. a can of soup and crackers. She was starving! They acted like I was asking them to prepare a whole meal from scratch. I was aleady mad that the ER did not feed her when she'd been there ALL DAY, mad at Mike for not insisting they feed her when he went and got himself lunch. I'd had to leave for a bit for W, then came back and didn't realize she'd not been fed.

Also, there's just daily things we take for granted that isn't done that can improve the mood, day, how they feel. I would clean her eye glasses bc the place never did and I noticed one day how dirty they were. We made 'rules' for those visiting to help w. some small things. Gently comb her hair, they'd do those poodle perms on her and though she was showered and her hair shampooed, they didn't put much effort into combing or brushing. Put lotion on her hands, maybe wash her face and use a little moisturizer. Brush her teeth for her, she had partial plates top and bottom, not full dentures, but I know it felt better to not have food lodged in between the plates after meals. The benign neglect...