What a beautiful day today. I am at work and the sun is shining and snow melting!!! It makes you feel good just to think spring is on the way.
The couple I take care of are in their nineties and it is a pleasure to be allowed to care for them.
She has Parkinson’s and unable to walk any more. He has heart problems and uses a walker. His mind is excellent but hers is not too good. When she smiles, gentle reader, it is a great thing to see.
This is the type of job you really learn to appreciate what you have. To see people married for over 60 years and still totally devoted to each other. She might have dementia but she knows her family and always knows her husband.
I was feeling sorry for myself, dear reader, because of my eyesight and than I see these folks and forget my problems.
I need to count my blessings more often. It is very easy to sink into depression and be angry but it does not help.
When I see the sun shingg it reminds me of Ed. He had come to live with us when he was about 70.His vision was getting bad and he needed a lot of help. He was having a hard time getting used to the idea he couldn’t drive any more. A friend had brought his car to him and I was upset with this. I told him I didn’t allow cars here but he refused to move it. Than I told him he would have to pay storage fees for this. That got his attention. I contacted his friend and told him to come and get it. Ed had thought with the car here he could just go sit in it sometimes. I know how he felt but than he thought he could just drive around town. I felt like I spent most of my time trying to make Ed feel better.
When I explained how easy it would be to hit someone he just argued. I finally told him his friend had 24 hours to move the car or I would have it towed. His friend came and got the car and I called Dr. Pitkin to come and see ED.
Dr. Pitkin came and he prescribed an antdepressaant for him.It took about two weeks for this to work but after that Ed was fine. He started coming out of his room and talking to the other people. That really helped immensely. I don’t believe in taking a lot of medicine but sometimes, gentle reader, it is necessary. I even felt like I needed something by than!!!
I quit smoking 5 years ago and you know, gentle reader, I still find myself reaching for a cigarette sometimes. When I do I pick up the phone and call a friend. The same is true of depression so I pick the phone up again. Thank God I have great friends who put up with me.
Until the next time ,please call a friend and thank them for being your friend.
Love, Red
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
BEAUTY TREATMENT
It was certainly a beautiful day out. The weatherman said it would be very warm and sunny. The temperature was already 80 and we had the windows open.There was air conditioning but we only used it if it got humid or 90.
This was the day Betty came to do hair. Everyone got their hair washed and cut if they wanted. It always made the folks happy to see her. Betty was a very compassionate person. She never hurried and wanted everyone happy with their hair. Sometimes it got very interesting because most of the folks could not bend over the sink. To make up for this Betty put a plastic cape over their clothes and the water would run into a large container. His seemed fine but we always had one person who would be soaked and deceide they had to go pee. It never failed but we managed.
Betty had been there about two hours when we heard the emergency whistle blow. I didn’t think much of it because all my people were ok. Then the whistle blew again. All of a sudden Betty came rushing downstairs and said, “I have to go because I am sure it is my house”. She was out the door and gone in less than a minute. I could not imagine what was wrong and I got a terrible feeling. Kate, she had worked for me for a long time, helped me finish everyone. I was so glad to have her there working that day. Kate was the type who could walk in and pick up anything that was going on. I always called her my right hand.
We found out later it was Betty’s husband who had died in the fire. It was very devastating to all of us. The folks were upset and it took a few weeks to get recovered.
You always had to be ready for any unexpected things. It could be funny or sad but the main thing was to be ready with some kind of an answer. I think this is where the term “wing it” came it.
If I had one of the people ask me when they were going home I always said, “Tomorrow you can go.” I used this line more than any other.
I will leave you, gentle reader, with one thought: how many goals have you reached in your life? Do you remember how worried you were over something a year ago? Did it really matter? Think how much time and energy yiou spend on little things and put them behind you. You will feel better and I think you will probably smile more.
Love, Red
This was the day Betty came to do hair. Everyone got their hair washed and cut if they wanted. It always made the folks happy to see her. Betty was a very compassionate person. She never hurried and wanted everyone happy with their hair. Sometimes it got very interesting because most of the folks could not bend over the sink. To make up for this Betty put a plastic cape over their clothes and the water would run into a large container. His seemed fine but we always had one person who would be soaked and deceide they had to go pee. It never failed but we managed.
Betty had been there about two hours when we heard the emergency whistle blow. I didn’t think much of it because all my people were ok. Then the whistle blew again. All of a sudden Betty came rushing downstairs and said, “I have to go because I am sure it is my house”. She was out the door and gone in less than a minute. I could not imagine what was wrong and I got a terrible feeling. Kate, she had worked for me for a long time, helped me finish everyone. I was so glad to have her there working that day. Kate was the type who could walk in and pick up anything that was going on. I always called her my right hand.
We found out later it was Betty’s husband who had died in the fire. It was very devastating to all of us. The folks were upset and it took a few weeks to get recovered.
You always had to be ready for any unexpected things. It could be funny or sad but the main thing was to be ready with some kind of an answer. I think this is where the term “wing it” came it.
If I had one of the people ask me when they were going home I always said, “Tomorrow you can go.” I used this line more than any other.
I will leave you, gentle reader, with one thought: how many goals have you reached in your life? Do you remember how worried you were over something a year ago? Did it really matter? Think how much time and energy yiou spend on little things and put them behind you. You will feel better and I think you will probably smile more.
Love, Red
Saturday, January 3, 2009
GOING DOWN ANYONE?
New Years Day has arrived and I am making a New Year’s resolution. Ready?? I am going to write more blogs. I have a new laptop computer to work with and I am not going to be defeated by my eye sight. I have macular degeneration and my left eye is not doing so good. I will try my best to still do blogs but you, my gentle reader, must bear with me if I make errors.
In my last blog I had mentioned Bill. He was a very belligerent 63 year old man. He had several medical problems and was unable to stay home alone. He had no family so he was all alone. No matter what the subject was he always said what he thought and insisted his version was the only one that mattered. It was so bad the other folks would ignore him. I tried to keep the peace but it was very trying. Bill got so he stayed in his room most of the time just lying in bed. I tried to get him to read but no luck. He had a chip on his shoulder and nothing moved him. He started wanting his meals served in his room and I said no. I allowed him breakfast but told him he needed to come to the table for meals. The language he used was horrible so I just left his room. He came for the evening meal and I breathed a sigh of relief. I should have known it would not last. The next day after breakfast he informed me he would take all meals in his room!! I repeated what I had said. II tried reasoning with him but nothing seemed to get through. I always reminded myself to remember these people were ill and I should be very patient no matter what they said.
The next day started out ok with Bill even coming to the table for breakfast. When it came time for lunch it was a different story. I went to his room and he said he wanted luch served in his room. I refused and we were at a stalemate. I waited until 100 and told him lunch was over and if he wanted a sandwich to come to the kitchen anytime. He replied with a few choice words and I left. He never came out of his room all afternoon. I called him at 4:45 for dinner and he informed me he was eating in his room I told him if he refused to come to the table I would call thee Dr. I than went back to the kitchen. It was not five minutes later when Carl hollered”Hey!!! Someone just jumped out the upstairs window”!! It took a few seconds for that to sink in and then I realized it was Bill. He had opened his window and jumped! I rushed outside and there he was on the blacktop driveway screaming. I called the Emergency Squad and they came and rushed him to the hospital. the end result was he had broken his ankle but otherwise was ok.
It took me quite a while to recover from that. He was evaluated in the hospital and admitted to the Mental Health Unit. The Doctor explained he had been there before and would be placed in a secure facility for the rest of his life.
Whenever something liked this happened I always felt like I had failed. It would take a while to pull myself together again.
It made me realize I could not help everyone but you do the best you can.
Until the next time, dear reader, try to go through one week with out raising your voice or becoming upset. Look for the cause and you will feel better.
Love Red
In my last blog I had mentioned Bill. He was a very belligerent 63 year old man. He had several medical problems and was unable to stay home alone. He had no family so he was all alone. No matter what the subject was he always said what he thought and insisted his version was the only one that mattered. It was so bad the other folks would ignore him. I tried to keep the peace but it was very trying. Bill got so he stayed in his room most of the time just lying in bed. I tried to get him to read but no luck. He had a chip on his shoulder and nothing moved him. He started wanting his meals served in his room and I said no. I allowed him breakfast but told him he needed to come to the table for meals. The language he used was horrible so I just left his room. He came for the evening meal and I breathed a sigh of relief. I should have known it would not last. The next day after breakfast he informed me he would take all meals in his room!! I repeated what I had said. II tried reasoning with him but nothing seemed to get through. I always reminded myself to remember these people were ill and I should be very patient no matter what they said.
The next day started out ok with Bill even coming to the table for breakfast. When it came time for lunch it was a different story. I went to his room and he said he wanted luch served in his room. I refused and we were at a stalemate. I waited until 100 and told him lunch was over and if he wanted a sandwich to come to the kitchen anytime. He replied with a few choice words and I left. He never came out of his room all afternoon. I called him at 4:45 for dinner and he informed me he was eating in his room I told him if he refused to come to the table I would call thee Dr. I than went back to the kitchen. It was not five minutes later when Carl hollered”Hey!!! Someone just jumped out the upstairs window”!! It took a few seconds for that to sink in and then I realized it was Bill. He had opened his window and jumped! I rushed outside and there he was on the blacktop driveway screaming. I called the Emergency Squad and they came and rushed him to the hospital. the end result was he had broken his ankle but otherwise was ok.
It took me quite a while to recover from that. He was evaluated in the hospital and admitted to the Mental Health Unit. The Doctor explained he had been there before and would be placed in a secure facility for the rest of his life.
Whenever something liked this happened I always felt like I had failed. It would take a while to pull myself together again.
It made me realize I could not help everyone but you do the best you can.
Until the next time, dear reader, try to go through one week with out raising your voice or becoming upset. Look for the cause and you will feel better.
Love Red
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