Since I've mentioned this multiple times in the comments where I can't actually post photos, here it is for all curious. Work done by https://kennwalkerdesigns.com. Makes this bag highly more useable as an everyday carry for me. The access to my phone when I don't need to worry about security is key.
Has anyone stayed at the Eliza Jane since it became a Marriott property? I've read about it on the Hyatt forums, but am interested in more current impressions. (Switch was announced 4 months ago.)
From their website reviews it also sounds like when the switch was made they did/started some renovations/constuction. Anyone know if they are done or the timeline?
Context: 20th anniversary trip in December. Can't afford the Ritz, weighing other options. (Lots of great info in previous threads. Thanks!) This property is a new Marriott option, and I trust my r/ folks! (We don't have much status, just Gold and the credit card, so lounge access and upgrades aren't on our radar. We take what we book and are grateful!)
Patient is 83F, currently 119 pounds (up from 113 last week), 5'3" white, with congestive heart failure diagnosed as "mild" two years ago, and is clearly progressing (but has no new evaluation since 9/2025). No history of drinking or smoking.
Hospitalized 10 weeks ago for a few days with edema, after which her diuretics were increased. She did not see her cardiologist at that point in time, he just called in the new prescription.
Hospitalized 8 weeks ago for 7 days after "dangerously low" potassium and magnesium levels from constipation. Subsequently spent 21 days in a rehab facility. She did not see her cardiologist at all during that time (in hospital or rehab) despite her husband calling and asking for the cardiologist to see her prior to release (he has privileges at that hospital and his office is across the street). Note that they are in a rural health care system and I have zero doubt the cardiologist's case load is VERY high.
Allegedly, at no point in time did ANY of the providers she saw link the increased diuretic to the constipation, at least according to her husband (unreliable narrator). She did have at least one EKG in the ER, but no one (again allegedly) discussed the results. Other tests in the ER included a CT scan. There was no new treatment plan upon discharge from rehab except to comply with PT and continue taking meds as prescribed.
She has been home for 2 weeks having in-home PT/nurse visits. Her ankles are swollen again with edema. She has gained 6 pounds in a week. The visiting nurse called the cardiologist's office seeking advice about the edema, weight gain, and diuretics on Monday. Patient's husband again called the cardiologist's office yesterday and reported the 6 pound weight gain to the receptionist who promised a phone call. No phone call yet. I am unclear whether he requested an appointment, but he was not given one -- the next appointment currently on the books is September which is her annual follow up.
The receptionist at the cardiologist's office talked to father-in-law about the three factor test for going to the ER: 1) weight gain of 2 pounds a day or 5 a week (met); 2) unusual tiredness or fatigue (they say no, but it's hard to tell given her baseline lack of activity); and 3) shortness of breath (no). She was well enough to go get her hair done and sit in a restaurant, but exhausted after and went straight to bed.
They report that they do not want to go back to the ER as they know she will end up admitted again. She does NOT want to be admitted or go back to rehab. They have REFUSED hospice evaluations and get livid with me for bringing it up. She has also revoked her DNR during a pre-surgery panic. However, despite these preferences she is an ER frequent fliers -- they take her an average of 4 times per year and she ends up in rehab 1 out of 2 times. Without intervention I am quite sure that's where they end up again.
At this point, I'm trying to figure out what their next move should be and how to advocate for it in a way that does not get me cut out of conversations. I am thinking my father-in-law should ask the receptionist for a "first available" appointment with the cardiologist based on the weight gain. He keeps insisting that "everything is in her chart" and the cardiologist will call if he thinks they should anything should change with regard to her care. I maintain that the cardiologist is NOT routinely reviewing her chart without an appointment. My fear is that they are in a pattern of increasing the diuretic, leading to constipation and hospitalization. Given that it has been a year and she has new/worsening symptoms, am I right that she really needs to be evaluated for a new treatment plan? MY goal is to keep her as comfortable as possible and avoid more panicked ER visits.
Dealing with an elderly family member (F, age 83, 110 pounds down from 140 two years ago, lifelong non-smoker and basically a lifelong non-drinker) who is in failing health. She is going downhill quickly, without a new precipitating event/diagnosis, so I'm here seeking guidance on what appointments I should seek to get a new diagnosis for possible hospice purposes.
Nutshell background: 7 years ago - hospitalization and rehab for several months (first week in an induced coma) after inhalation/chemical pneumonia resulting from a non-functional pyloric valve. She has since had four surgeries to remove scar tissue and clear a path from her stomach to the small intestine. Each surgery has left her weaker, required longer stays in rehab, and left her with more difficulty swallowing.
Additionally, she was diagnosed with "mild" congestive heart failure several years ago.
3 months ago she had a surgery on her foot to reduce pain from a toe deformity. After that outpatient surgery she developed edema of the ankles and legs. She ended up back in rehab for about a month dealing with the edema. She transitioned back to home and has had a schedule of occupational therapy for the last month with which she has been intermittently compliant.
She saw her PCP once after release from rehab. Her caregiver attempted to talk to the PCP about some concerns, but she shut him down and the doctor allegedly "rushed them" out of the office with no new guidance.
In the last week she has increased fatigue to the point that she goes days at a time without getting out of bed, and when she can be persuaded to get out of bed it is one trip to the recliner and then back to the bed at night. She can longer use her walker, only the transfer chair. She has had one fall transferring to the recliner, but claims no pain and no visible injuries. She is barely eating, managing at most a few bites of random foods (two days ago it was 1 olive and 1/4 of a pickle, and yesterday 2 bite size pieces of watermelon and two bites of iceberg lettuce) along with maybe 1 can of ensure per day. She secretions are thick and she averages about 16oz of water per day. Her personality is changing, becoming confused more frequently and combative with her caregiver, including mild physical lashing out. She will no longer cooperate with bathing or trips to the bathroom. The only non-family caregiver she is seeing regularly is the occupational therapist who has told her main caregiver that she is "very worried" and urged him to hire more in-home care. (Cost is an issue.)
Her caregiver says that she had been slowly getting worse since coming home from rehab, but the last week the change has been "drastic." She had one episode after being transferred to the toilet where she slumped over and "looked possessed" where she was unresponsive and vacant for 1-3 minutes. Caregiver is not reporting increased edema, but is also an unreliable narrator at times and minimizes issues.
My concern right now is getting the caregiver more help. Everything he has described to me sounds like she MIGHT qualify for hospice care based on the lack of food intake, weakness, etc, but we do NOT have a "new" diagnosis like cancer or a new heart assessment. Caregiver is reluctant to take her to the ER as she does NOT want to be hospitalized or return to rehab. (She also does not have a DNR, which is a whole other complication.) Is a PCP appointment the right step to see if she can qualify for a 6-months diagnosis to qualify for hospice? Or is the ER the right call?