I am thankful for
nursing home workers.
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| My mother was once a very talented nursing home worker. Now she is benefiting from others with the same calling, some of whom she trained. |
My mother has a great place to live. The facility is small and has a good staff who really seem to care. Working with the elderly is their calling. During a recent visit with my mother, this was very evident.
For example, one evening at supper, I saw a worker, Pauline, meet the needs of several in rapid succession. First she got "insulated" silverware for Edna who was convinced that electricity was coming out of everything. Next she helped Sara who had eaten too much and was ready to vomit at the table. Then she watered a plant for Rita because Rita wouldn't eat until she knew that the plant had been properly watered. After all of that, Sarah moved onto Imogene who was not able to feed herself. All of this was done with a smile and a kind word for everyone.
So for Pauline and others who use their special talents to care for those in nursing homes, I am very thankful.
This is a lovely tribute to your mother and all nursing home care givers. Your mother is beautiful, live and learn! I am very glad for you that she is being looked after so lovingly.
ReplyDeleteWhile nothing is perfect, we are very happy with her placement. Compared to other experiences and stories I've heard, we feel especially lucky.
DeleteShe does look beautiful, doesn't she? I never thought of her that way as a kid. She was just my mother. Looks didn't figure into the equation at that point.
Your post was so sweet. I think we are going to be looking for some care for mom soon so it is a welcome post fro me to read.
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck when you start looking. My advice is to look now even if you don't think you're quite ready. Sometimes there a long lists to get into places.
DeleteWe had some wonderful caregivers for my father and it certainly took a weight off my mind. They aren't paid anywhere near what they are worth! Think of the creative problem-solving that Pauline had to come up with to keep everyone happy--being able to do that is a gift.
ReplyDeleteIt goes in cycles, but apparently they have a lot of people now with dementia where my mother is and that can make things quite interesting. (This place is too small for a memory unit). I had to smile one night when I looked at Edna's feet at dinner. They had been telling her that her shoes had rubber soles and acted as insulators from the electricity that is flowing from everywhere (as she perceives it). However, she didn't always think that was enough and was disturbed. Then I saw her shoes with purple rubber gloves over the ends with the fingers dangling. It was kind of funny to look at but, Edna felt protected and was happy. Now that was creative problem solving.
DeleteYour mother looks beautiful, Live and Learn. I'm glad she is in a good care facility with caring workers. The workers really do make a difference in such places, don't they?
ReplyDeleteThe staff can make all the difference just like an individual teacher can give a student a really good year even when the school is not so great.
DeleteYour mother was lovely and it seems you lucked out on a caring facility. I loved nursing and loved the elderly even more. They were funny and could tell some stories! It was a privilege to work with them. I miss it so very much.
ReplyDeleteWe are very fortunate to have my mother placed where she is. Being in a small town, there's not much choice, but we don't really need it.
DeleteIs there any way you could volunteer with the elderly sometime? Sounds like you would be able to brighten anyone's day.
It's a very difficult job. Happy some do it so well and with such respect and kindness.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very difficult job. Not one that I could do. I'm also very happy that there are some out there that can.
DeleteThat is good to hear after all of the not so great stories we hear about in the news. I worked for years as a special education teacher and relied on my educational assistants to help students with all kinds of students. You can definitely tell the difference between the ones who care and the ones who don't.
ReplyDeleteWorking with Special Ed is another place where it takes a special kind of person. As you know, the work is difficult, so I hopes that weeds out the ones that are cut out for the job.
DeleteMy father was in a different nursing home, and while it was okay, this one is better. There are several reasons for that, but we're happy that we chose this one for our mother.
What a sweet post. So glad your mother is being well cared for. Perhaps it's karma - the good kind.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is karma. My mother spent the last couple of years before she retired working in the skilled nursing unit (nursing home.) I have a notebook full of letters from families of people she cared for thanking her for making a difference.
DeleteThe great thing about this place is everyone gets the same care. It doesn't matter if you're sweet or mean. It doesn't matter whether you have money or not. It doesn't matter whether you have regular visitors or no one every comes. That's not what I've observed everywhere.