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
Aug172009

Shut Yer Pie Hole

DateMonday, August 17, 2009 at 03:35PM

Scene: 8 am, this morning, walking the dog along a main road around the corner from my house. Various pieces of litter - my Achilles' Heel, the swift sword through my soul - are strewn along the sidewalk.

Main Characters: Me, Sammy the Dog and some guy who lives on the main street.

(Me, noticing the long trail of litter, muttering to myself): What is wrong with people? Don't they see this in front of their own homes, day after day? It's revolting...

(Suddenly, a man emerges from a door of one of the houses. Unable to bottle-up my angst, I spill.)

(Me to man): Cripes, doesn't anybody ever sweep around here? Look at this!

(Man, shrugging shoulders): It's overflow from the trash can at the corner...

(Me): Be that as it may, can't ya just get out a broom every once in a while?

(Man): I'd hafta be out here every day...

(Me): So? I sweep-up other people's litter every day...

(Man) Yeah, well, the street sweeper guy with the little machine comes by here a lot.

(Me): Dude, that guy doesn't come this way often, we're lucky if he cleans here once every few weeks. We just have to do it ourselves.

(Man, as he lights a ciggie): Yeah, well maybe you have the time, but I don't.

(Me, voice rising): Yeah, well maybe you could manage it while you're out here puffing away, you know, broom in one hand, smokes in the other...

(Man): Get a life, lady...

(Me): Get a job, pal... (NOTE: I've been borrowing that line from my brother-in-law for years now. Need to discard it because, with the recession in full bloom, people do not respond well to it. About 20 years ago, I used the same line with two women who were yelling at me for taking a parking space they wanted. They freaked when I advised them to 'get a job.' I skedaddled, but think if they had gotten their hands on me, I would have been throttled.)

Proceed to amble along more quickly because man is ranting something about his job or lack thereof. Feel shaken by my outburst and not a morsel of litter has been removed. Must learn to simply pick up litter silently and shut my big fat mouth.

Sammy agrees.

Fade to black and proceed to really try, as Mr. Ain't-My-Litter suggested, to go out and get myself a life.

AuthorDiane Bones | CommentPost a Comment |

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