I had an elderly patient in clinic recently. She has multiple advanced medical conditions and her dementia leaves her frustratedly forgetting words. But her wit and humor are sharp as ever. Most of our appointment is spent laughing

Eventually we discuss her cardiac issues and slight changes in her medical regiment. As I’m writing the changes on paper for her daughter to take back the nursing home my patient looks at me dejectedly

Our eyes meet and I ask what’s on her mind. ‘Food. The food at my nursing home is terrible!’. She used to cook every meal for her family her daughter adds but she’s left relying on others…which she hates. ‘And no wine! What I’d do for a glass of red with dinner’

So I wrote her a prescription for a glass of red wine with dinner PRN. Idk it will work or if the wine will be any good but it felt good to bring some happiness to my patient. Tonight I’m gonna open a bottle of red and I hope she gets some too