My father studying the art...

L1040925 my father studying the art..., originally uploaded by Susan NYC.

...and Sylvia walking ahead....she has a hard time walking at his pace when he's looking at things (which is most of the time).

It used to drive me crazy, walking so slowly alongside him. But now I'm used to it, and I let him paddle along with his feet, at his speed, and try to push the chair only when he needs help.

Sylvia, keeping her eye on my father

L1040924, originally uploaded by Susan NYC.

Yesterday I took pizza to the nursing home, for the three of us. When Riverdale Pizzeria has the pizza with marinara sauce, we're in luck.  The three of us really enjoyed it, even cold.

Sylvia & my father with his mouth full

L1039576 Sylvia & my father w/his mouth full, originally uploaded by Susan NYC.

We got back late from the doctor, so Sylvia found his dinner and microwaved it, so it was hot. What a pleasure to have found Sylvia.

I met Sylvia from when she took care of someone on another floor that my father was on (recovering from a shoulder fracture), and I ran into her recently. I wouldn't have hired an aide, but with my father's weight loss and swallowing problems, it made a lot of sense.  And I'm trying to get an extra class each semester to cover the expense.

My father is doing better since Sylvia has come on the scene.  She's there from 4-8, so she can be with him during dinner and take him off the floor after dinner.

He loves to go to the main floor and look at the art.  He's always loved art.  The Hebrew Home has a fine art collection.

sylvia started yesterday

L1038077 my father & sylvia, originally uploaded by Susan NYC.

Sylvia arrives just before dinner, so she sits with my father and makes sure he gets enough to eat. She said he ate a lot tonight and last night - fish both nights, which he loves. And she'll take him downstairs or into the nice lounge after dinner so he doesn't have to sit in the tv room. And she puts him to bed. I think it'll work out fine.