May 2024
Toni P
Awrey
,
RN
ICU/PCU
MyMichigan Health
Midland
,
MI
United States
Toni proceeded to wrap the foam tape and wrap the handles with it, then took the bigger syringes and put the handles of the utensils in the ends of the syringes to give my grandfather the bigger size handles but the light weight utensils to be able to eat with.
My 93 year old grandfather came through the emergency room on Tuesday and was transferred to ICU after being diagnosed with pneumonia, Covid, and needing a blood transfusion. My grandfather suffers from CIDP and Lewy Body Dementia and doesn’t have the strength and ability to hold regular silverware. They ordered adaptive silverware for him to use to eat with, but it was too heavy for him to use. I asked Toni if my grandfather could get some plastic ware to use to eat with, and I explained the adaptive silverware was too heavy to use, but he needed the bigger handle. Toni said not a problem, she would get him some plastic ware when Toni returned with a fork, spoon, and knife along with a roll of foam tape and 3 bigger syringes. Toni proceeded to wrap the foam tape and wrap the handles with it, then took the bigger syringes and put the handles of the utensils in the ends of the syringes to give my grandfather the bigger size handles but the light weight utensils to be able to eat with. She said that was a first for her with somebody needing lightweight adaptive silverware. What she made shooting from the hip was awesome and worked great, too. I told her she needed to patent what she had made. She was able to make it easier and less frustrating for my grandfather to eat, and he tries to be very independent.