Once again I am reminded of how little is known about the nursing homes today. I was approached this morning and asked where I had worked previous to this position. When I mentioned LTC. immediately the visitor stated, "Oh, that is so depressing how those old people are just left there with no visitors." I was appalled and quickly informed this lady that nursing homes were quite different. Many of the residents placed in nursing homes today have frequent visitors. They are there because their family members have to work outside the home and they want their loved one in a safe place. Or they have gotten dementia and can no longer be cared for properly at home. Other's are placed in LTC because they have no one to care for them; so wouldn't you say that this person deserves to be where she can go to different activities, socialize with other residents, go on field trips and most of all, receive care and love from her caretakers?
I realize there are places that are not the best for our elderly population. However these places are far and few between. The majority of LTC facilities want the best for those in their care. You will never find the perfect place; but I still maintain that being in a nursing home is far better than being home alone day after day with no socialization or activities. Only the t.v. and hopefully a phone call, even if it is from a marketer.
So next time you are approached with negativeness regarding long term care for a loved one, ask the person, "Have you visited one of these facilities?" Chances are they will say no, but are sharing what they "heard" or think. These are the people who make it more painful when someone does have to make the difficult, painful decision to place their loved one in a Long Term Care facility. They need encouragement and assistance; not guilt and horror stories from those who have no idea what they are talking about.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
The receptionist greeted me kindly as I entered the Nursing Home. I asked where I could find Betty and Kevin, (not their real names). She looked confused. When I asked where the bible study was being held, her face lit up and she pointed down the hall. On my way down the corridor, I was met with a strange, but familiar odor. One that is rarely noticed in LTC today. Atleast, not the good ones. It was the odor of stale urine; the halls smelt dirty to me. My " not a good place for referrals" intennea went up. I noticed residents who hadn't had their hair combed yet and wondered if they would. After all, it was 10:30am. Had they gone to breakfast like this?
I continued down the corridor. As I approached the nurses desk, several employees were standing around talking. One of them looked at me as if to say, "what do you want?" But she quickly turned back to the other staff. I finally interupted and asked if they knew where I could find Betty and Kevin. Again, No one knew who these two volunteers were.
"They have been coming here for over thirty years and no one knows them?
My tone obviously showing my frustration. I then asked,
"Do you know where the bible study is?"
They pointed me to a small room off the dining area. Needless to say, so far I was unimpressed with this particular facility. We had about ten residents in the room. Other residents were in the dining room just sitting there. More were lined up in the hallways, again just sitting. I hadn't noticed many staff so I assumed they were on break.
During the bible study I noticed the music in the dining area was loud enough that I could hear it over the volunteers reading. After the bible study, Betty showed me the room they used to have. She shared how one Sunday morning she and Kevin walked in as usual, and found their room had been renovated into a meeting room. The Activity Director, nor the Administrator had given these volunteers the respect of letting them know about the upcoming change in the facility. Even the large mural of Christ was wall papered over! For several weeks they did not have a room to meet in.
I bring all this up because, when you bring your loved one to a nursng facility, they will always tell you how the resident comes first. What I am curious to know however, is how taking these elderly resident's, some of whom are hard of hearing, out from a quiet area of the building, and placing them in a room that cannot be closed off. A room that is connected to the main dining area where music is being played, and staff are talking; How is this putting these resident's first?
It is also important for you, as a caretaker or family member, to know activities are what gives your loved one quality of life. It is not the medicine they take, it is not the clothes put on them. It is daily activities that fit their personal needs and interests. These activities give your family member a reason to get up; something to look forward to.
As the bible study began however, I turned my attention to the group of Elders. It was clear to me that more than a few of them were participating in the group. They were enjoying having God's word brought into them. I also noticed how much they remembered and knew about what was being taught. It opened my heart to the real spiritual need of our elder population in the nursing home. And it saddened me to see so few brought to the study, and to see the disrepect shown to the wonderful volunteers who were filling this need.
You can bet I will be back next week and hopefully, the odor isn't a normal occurance, nor the rudeness of the staff.
I continued down the corridor. As I approached the nurses desk, several employees were standing around talking. One of them looked at me as if to say, "what do you want?" But she quickly turned back to the other staff. I finally interupted and asked if they knew where I could find Betty and Kevin. Again, No one knew who these two volunteers were.
"They have been coming here for over thirty years and no one knows them?
My tone obviously showing my frustration. I then asked,
"Do you know where the bible study is?"
They pointed me to a small room off the dining area. Needless to say, so far I was unimpressed with this particular facility. We had about ten residents in the room. Other residents were in the dining room just sitting there. More were lined up in the hallways, again just sitting. I hadn't noticed many staff so I assumed they were on break.
During the bible study I noticed the music in the dining area was loud enough that I could hear it over the volunteers reading. After the bible study, Betty showed me the room they used to have. She shared how one Sunday morning she and Kevin walked in as usual, and found their room had been renovated into a meeting room. The Activity Director, nor the Administrator had given these volunteers the respect of letting them know about the upcoming change in the facility. Even the large mural of Christ was wall papered over! For several weeks they did not have a room to meet in.
I bring all this up because, when you bring your loved one to a nursng facility, they will always tell you how the resident comes first. What I am curious to know however, is how taking these elderly resident's, some of whom are hard of hearing, out from a quiet area of the building, and placing them in a room that cannot be closed off. A room that is connected to the main dining area where music is being played, and staff are talking; How is this putting these resident's first?
It is also important for you, as a caretaker or family member, to know activities are what gives your loved one quality of life. It is not the medicine they take, it is not the clothes put on them. It is daily activities that fit their personal needs and interests. These activities give your family member a reason to get up; something to look forward to.
As the bible study began however, I turned my attention to the group of Elders. It was clear to me that more than a few of them were participating in the group. They were enjoying having God's word brought into them. I also noticed how much they remembered and knew about what was being taught. It opened my heart to the real spiritual need of our elder population in the nursing home. And it saddened me to see so few brought to the study, and to see the disrepect shown to the wonderful volunteers who were filling this need.
You can bet I will be back next week and hopefully, the odor isn't a normal occurance, nor the rudeness of the staff.
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