
MRS. CATTANEO
When we first met Mrs. Cattaneo, she was in the initial stages of cognitive decline (age 92) and was experiencing Sundowners Syndrome. Her former power of attorney sadly passed well before her from undisclosed cancer, suggesting that Mrs. Cattaneo was not expected to live beyond her. Thus, a new attorney in fact was needed. We received a call from the local Ombudsman to consider coming onboard as her agent for finances and healthcare.
Mrs. Cattaneo was not doing well and had suffered a few falls and several urinary tract infections. She also had uncontrolled diabetes with an A1C of 9.9%, which was extremely dangerous. Within just three months and the help of a new general physician, her A1C dropped 3% to 6.9%. We changed her diet to low mechanical as she experienced a swallowing disorder and arranged for her medicine to be crushed and included in pudding or jello to make it easier to be healthy and living comfortably.
Just recently she had a feeding tube (g-tube) put in and though the skilled nursing facility doctor gave her a mere six months to live, she has been exceeding his expectations four times over. Her resiliency may be due to her Swiss-German heritage or just not ready to give up.
In the beginning Mrs. Cattaneo was rather isolated but for an in-law, who drove a great distance to visit her. Now he too is living in a retirement community and not able to visit often. We have been instrumental in reopening channels with a ladies group she once belonged to and now continues to receive visits and companionship from them, speaking in her native language as her fluency in English wanes.
Note that information has been changed to protect our clients' identity.Any similarity to current or past clients may be coincidental.