The Knee Bone's Connected To ...
tsb

Such a face! Daddy Bones@ age 12, gracing the book's cover.

 

 How to Keep Your Sanity Intact When a Loved One Needs a Nursing Home  

It’s estimated that more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year.

Studies show that extremely stressed caregivers can age or die prematurely. 

“Bette Davis said ‘old age is no place for sissies,’ but caring for an older loved one isn’t for the feint of heart, either,” says Bones. “I loved my dad and we were very close, but the strain of ‘putting’ him in a nursing home was so overwhelming for all of us that I felt like I was on the edge of a nervous breakdown.”

Becoming aware of some of the don’ts” of long-term care can make daily life easier for nursing home residents and for their family caretakers,” she notes.

Bones offers some key examples from her Nursing Home Checklist:

· Ask clergy, family, and friends - especially those in the health care field - to recommend outstanding nursing homes.

· When touring a nursing home, ask other visitors for frank feedback about the facility. Don’t just inspect the “sample” room, look into residents’ rooms to check for cleanliness.

· Assure your loved one that you will be their ongoing advocate.

· Visit your loved one often and at varying times of the day - and night. This alerts all of the caregivers that you are keeping an eye on your loved one.

· Get to know the staff, especially your loved one’s immediate caregivers.

· Thank the employees for the thankless job that they do.

· Put your loved one’s name on all their belongings, including clothes and personal products. Never leave money or valuables in their room.

· Place a quilt, photos and other small touches to create a “homey” room.

· Put a brief bio and picture of your loved one at the entrance of their room to “introduce” them to staff and visitors.

. Bring old photos when you visit your loved one - it will give you something to look at if conversation lags.

. Bring different edible treats to spice-up the resident's menu.

 

 


 

 

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Monday
Aug102009

WANT SOME CANDY, LITTLE GIRL?

DateMonday, August 10, 2009 at 10:45AM

Never take candy from a stranger, right?
How about from a phone company?

In my neighborhood, there is a cell phone shop (one of many) with the predictable ugly, block-lettered signs on its storefront window: "UNLIMITED MINUTES!" "LEARN ABOUT OUR SPECIAL PROMOTIONS!" "ONLY TWO STUDENTS ALLOWED AT A TIME." (Why? Are they afraid of crowds of unruly hooligans storming the joint after school to grab that tantalizing text message offer?) But along with these signs, what really stood out was one that proclaimed "CANDY- 85 CENTS" and was highlighted with crude graphics of Skittles, Snickers and other well known candy bars.

So what marketing genius was sitting around, brainstorming about how to attract cell-phone loving youngsters, and suddenly thought: "I know how to grab their attention - CANDY! It works every time!"

Yes, that's right, folks, they're what you call a full-service store - they sell cell phones and candy! Bill Gates, you certainly have created some clever ideas in the business world, but wait until you hear this one!

Personally, I  think the whole idea sounds suspect at best.

So kids, remember what your mama told you and avoid strangers with candy.

However, if you are too weak to resist the lure of inexpensive sweets, remember: candy causes cavities and only two students allowed at a time.

 

AuthorDiane Bones | Comment1 Comment |

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Reader Comments (1)

Wonderful post... Very informational and educational as usual!

Acai Optimum

March 5, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterJB.

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