August

It has been a crazy but fun month. I spent 13 days working in a SNF unit in Hermiston. It was an older nursing home, but the folks I had the privilege to work with were amazing. It was hard to be away from my home, but these folks accepted me and were very loving and caring. I was originally scheduled for 7 days, but the company I was contracted for had difficulty finding someone to take over when I left. I was lucky in that I could extend my stay, but it did cause me to do back to back runs. I got home from Hermiston last Tuesday, and turned around and left Wednesday for Grants Pass. I did have the option of not extending my Hermiston run, but since I had nothing pressing at home, I could extend it. I have learned so much from the folks I have worked with and am so thankful for the opportunities I have had. While the SNF unit in Grants Pass is more up to date, the needs are very similar. Of course age is a bastard and doesn't play fair I am learning. I am not sure I like this lesson. It doesn't seem to matter how well you take care of yourself on how well you will age. But I have learned some other lessons that are priceless. Residents in both places choose to eat dessert first most often. One lady told me that you should eat dessert first when you are older because you can not be assured you will be awake at the end of the meal. I have also learned the value of sitting quietly and holding hands. It is very good for the soul. I am truly amazed by many of the stories I have heard too. Women today should be on their knees thanking the ladies who came before us. They truly were the feminist and made changes. Going from housewives to working in airplane factories while the men were off to war. Talk about being pushed beyound a comfort zone. These women went from stay at home housewives or young women who were following footpaths set before them of leaving home and getting married to working outside of their homes to support their country. Often these women were married and their husbands were off to war. They did not have computers to keep in touch like we do now, letters could take months to go between loved ones. I truly stand amazed.

One common thread that I see between the settings is the importance of visiting folks in these places. Often they are left there and appear to be forgotten. Imagine not being able to understand why you can't live in your home any more. Your life is fairly programmed of your meals are served at specific times, you don't get to choose what you want to eat. You have to wait for someone to either change your diaper or take you to the bathroom. Most often you are tethered to an alarm that if you attempt to stand up, will go off making lots of noise. (of course this is a safty precaution so that these folks don't stand and fall over, balance is often affected) You no longer have the freedom to come and go. Often the rooms are institutionally decorated, all are the same, very few personal effects. Furniture is often old and doesn't work well. Added to the pile is that these folks struggle to differentiate one day from another. When they don't get to see their families for weeks on time, they get lonely. While staff try to take time with each pt. often they are understaffed and are trying to keep up. I don't know how we can improve these situations. It is costly to be in a SNF unit so again, often these folks go where they can afford to go. Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if all older folks could be cared for in environments that were less institutional looking and more homey? Of course this would result in a major over haul of our medical system. What if folks who came to visit these residents would help with memory by documenting their visits in a diary for the residents who could then refer back and say, oh yeah...susie was here 3 days ago?

Just wish that we could find a way to make the golden years more golden..