Chapter 6 - THE CAREGIVER WHO WAS TOLD NOT TO COME
Harold normally had help three mornings a week.
A home-care aide named Denise Carter.
Kaia canceled her Christmas visits.
Reason:
Family will be home.
The family was in Italy.
Denise had not known.
When Dana contacted the agency with Harold’s permission, the scheduling note showed Kaia canceled December 23 through December 28.
“Did she have authority to do that?” I asked.
“She was the family contact,” Harold said.
Another ordinary administrative detail.
Another door.
The medical-alert pendant had also disappeared.
Harold usually wore it around his neck.
“Where is it?”
“Marcus took it for repair.”
“When?”
“The morning they left.”
I looked at Harold.
“Did it need repair?”
“No.”
My son was becoming harder to defend.
Then the independent physician arrived.
Dr. Samuel Greene, a geriatric psychiatrist retained through Harold’s lawyer, spent nearly two hours with him.
Not five minutes.
Not through Kaia.
Harold admitted he had played impaired around his family.
Dr. Greene was visibly unhappy about that.
“Why?”
Harold gave the same answer.
“To see what they would do if they thought I couldn't stop them.”
“That is not a diagnostic strategy.”
“I know.”
“It's also risky.”
“I know.”
Testing showed mild deficits consistent with age and prior stroke.
Nothing remotely equivalent to the severe progressive dementia described in the nursing intake.
Dr. Greene's preliminary opinion:
Harold demonstrated capacity to understand his finances, residence choices, health decisions, and legal relationships.
For the first time, Harold cried.
Not dramatically.
He simply covered his eyes.
“I knew it.”
Dr. Greene answered:
“Capacity is task-specific and can change. Today, you clearly understand the decisions we're discussing.”
That mattered.
Not:
Perfect mind.
Not:
Nothing wrong.
Competent to choose.
Then Kaia called again.
Harold answered on speaker after Dana confirmed how the conversation should be preserved.
Kaia sounded cheerful.
“Christmas Eve tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Did you take last night's pills?”
Harold hesitated.
“I fell asleep.”
Her silence lasted too long.
“All of them tonight, then.”
I closed my eyes.
Harold said:
“That seems like a lot.”
“You keep forgetting doses.”
“Maybe I don't need them.”
“Harold.”
Her voice changed.
“You promised you'd cooperate.”
“With what?”
Another pause.
“Getting better.”
Then she softened.
“Mom will be there tomorrow. Please don't scare her by acting confused.”
My skin went cold.
She wanted me watching.
Harold asked:
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why Clarice?”
Kaia recovered quickly.
“Because she's family.”
Then:
“She can help if something happens.”
After the call, Dana looked at me.
“Now we document everything.”
I whispered:
May you like
“I think I'm supposed to be the person who calls the ambulance.”
Nobody contradicted me.
