He's an astronaut and an ISS science officer? Silly me! I forgot all about his special NASA olfactory training!!!
After all I, being only an earthbound armchair scientist, would never be able to sniff out the one single "outer-space" molecule swimming in each cubic centimeter of airlock air amongst the 2.7x10^19 other non-outer-space air molecules, but that's just me. And those welded compressed air storage tanks that contained the airlock air just before re-pressurizing?...well they DO they smell different than "outer space". A trained astronaut would know...
While it's intellectually fanciful to believe this is the "smell of outer space", what this guy is smelling is the odor of the compressed air used to re-pressurize the airlock, or more exactly, the smell of the inside of the metalic containers and pumps for the storage of the compressed air which the air picked up when contained under pressure before being introduced into the airlock. Take a whiff of compressed air from an air compressor or air tank... hmm, smells like space (apparently).
Sorry to hear about your grandmother's situation. Communication is very important and it's a great for you to try to help in this regard. I have a son who is unable to speak and we use a variety of communication methods (simple sign language, pictures/symbols, assistive communication devices, hand-over-hand (ie. show me), etc.) Tech'ies like us always like to help and solve problems. If this were a long-term situation, an Assistive Communication device would be good, but for now I think a few sign language signs are the best way to start.
Whereas she is on a ventilator, I imagine she is lying in a bed on her back. As such, writing/drawing is probably impractical as either the writing surface would have to be suspended above her so she could see it, or she'd have to write without seeing the paper/surface.
Pointing at a picture or word board is a good idea, but may prove difficult for her if she is tired, weak, heavily medicated (probable for intubated persons), or her arms have IVs. Also keep in mind whether she needs to use glasses for reading - she may not be able to read the board. It is possible to use an "eye-gaze" board, where you use a small number of words/pictures on a large board and there's a hold in the center of the board. As she stares at her 'response' on the board, you look through the hold in the center of the board and determine which direction her eyes are looking to select her response.
Assistive communication device can be hard for persons lying flat on their backIt would need to be suspended above her, and she may still have problems reaching up to hit the buttons. There's also the issue of what do you do when you're not there - hosptital staf won't want this device suspended above her and there's a good chance of it getting lost or broken. If you have an old laptop with mouse, you can download free voice-output communication software called PVoice at http://www.pvoice.org/
My advice is to use a few sign language words. If she can move one hand, the sign YES is to make a fist and 'nod' your fist up and down at the wrist, like someone nodding their head. The word NO is like a two-fingered "spock nerve pinch". The best online resource for sign language is Michigan State Univ "American Sign Language Browser" at http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.ht m They provide a small video snippet for each word which makes it really easy to learn. If course, you'd have to learn a couple signs then teach them to your grandmother. Best of all is that it required no additional gizmos or equipment and you can teach your other family members too so they are able to communicate with her as well.
Good luck!
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After all I, being only an earthbound armchair scientist, would never be able to sniff out the one single "outer-space" molecule swimming in each cubic centimeter of airlock air amongst the 2.7x10^19 other non-outer-space air molecules, but that's just me. And those welded compressed air storage tanks that contained the airlock air just before re-pressurizing?...well they DO they smell different than "outer space". A trained astronaut would know...
While it's intellectually fanciful to believe this is the "smell of outer space", what this guy is smelling is the odor of the compressed air used to re-pressurize the airlock, or more exactly, the smell of the inside of the metalic containers and pumps for the storage of the compressed air which the air picked up when contained under pressure before being introduced into the airlock. Take a whiff of compressed air from an air compressor or air tank... hmm, smells like space (apparently).
Whereas she is on a ventilator, I imagine she is lying in a bed on her back. As such, writing/drawing is probably impractical as either the writing surface would have to be suspended above her so she could see it, or she'd have to write without seeing the paper/surface.
Pointing at a picture or word board is a good idea, but may prove difficult for her if she is tired, weak, heavily medicated (probable for intubated persons), or her arms have IVs. Also keep in mind whether she needs to use glasses for reading - she may not be able to read the board. It is possible to use an "eye-gaze" board, where you use a small number of words/pictures on a large board and there's a hold in the center of the board. As she stares at her 'response' on the board, you look through the hold in the center of the board and determine which direction her eyes are looking to select her response.
Assistive communication device can be hard for persons lying flat on their backIt would need to be suspended above her, and she may still have problems reaching up to hit the buttons. There's also the issue of what do you do when you're not there - hosptital staf won't want this device suspended above her and there's a good chance of it getting lost or broken. If you have an old laptop with mouse, you can download free voice-output communication software called PVoice at http://www.pvoice.org/
My advice is to use a few sign language words. If she can move one hand, the sign YES is to make a fist and 'nod' your fist up and down at the wrist, like someone nodding their head. The word NO is like a two-fingered "spock nerve pinch". The best online resource for sign language is Michigan State Univ "American Sign Language Browser" at http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.ht m They provide a small video snippet for each word which makes it really easy to learn. If course, you'd have to learn a couple signs then teach them to your grandmother. Best of all is that it required no additional gizmos or equipment and you can teach your other family members too so they are able to communicate with her as well.
Good luck!