MR.SMITH Looks like there's a lot of coffee grounds in here.

NARRATOR It's been nearly two years since the patient was discharged from an earlier home care episode. Some significant cognitive changes have occurred.

ANN You don't have to drink it. Would you like some water?

MR. SMITH Yeah, could you put some water in it?

ANN Are you expecting someone, Mr. Smith?

MR. SMITH Well, ah…Let me see. There was…oh, who was it?

KAREN Hi! You must be the nurse from Fair Care.

MR. SMITH Ann, this is my daughter. You know she's a nurse, don't you? She knows all about my pills. Well, go ahead, honey, you know, you tell her about the heart problem I've got now.

ANN Hi! I'm Ann Carpenter. We spoke on the phone.

KAREN Oh, sure. I'm Karen. Nice to meet you.

ANN I'm glad you could make it today. Your Dad was so pleasant on the phone. I could tell he really wanted you here, too.

KAREN I figured you could use some help since he's come home from the hospital…

MR. SMITH Well, if you ladies will excuse me? Um, Karen, why don't you tell her about what happened last week. I had some bleeding in my urine. Oh, my little birds… they're out of birdseed. I'll be right back.

KAREN Those little feathered friends of his are getting a second helping today. Maybe a third.

ANN I see. I've noticed a few things just the short time I've been here today.

KAREN He is such a gentle soul. I think half the creatures in the neighborhood live here. But last week, though, I discovered he'd been writing checks every other day for birdseed and cat food. It's no wonder that old Persian is as big as a dog; I think he feeds the cat three and four times a day. In the yard out there, see that two-foot pile of birdseed? He forgets he fed them.

ANN (pauses, waiting for answers) So you think this kind of confusion is every day? I mean, he seems very familiar with everything right here. What about nighttime?

KAREN Yeah. Yeah, he's confused then, too. The neighbors say they see him sitting up here in the kitchen at 2 AM. He's so happy here, though. And he manages to get himself dressed; he's always shaved by 7 AM. Grandkids are helping out. We're just all hanging on as best we can. But lately, well, when I…I come in the mornings, the dinner that my daughter's laid at the table for him, ah...well, I just found it in the hall closet.

ANN I can see how worrisome this is for you. Let's talk more with your Dad.