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.

 

 


 

 

Powered by Squarespace
« Lights, Camera, ACTION! | Main | Study the Studies »
Monday
11Jan2010

Dirty Thoughts

DateMonday, January 11, 2010 at 06:11PM

I'm telling you, I'm not doing it anymore.

I'm the designated litter-picker-upper on our street. It's a self-appointed position with no remittance and zilch prestige.

People in my neighborhood litter like they are patrons in a movie theater, assuming that some schlub will pick up after them when they throw their trash on the ground. There is a gigantic elementary school on the corner of my street, which is not the main cause of litter in my corner of the world, but it certainly adds to the pile.

Every day, while walking my dog or running to the store, I pick up litter on the sidewalk in front of the school, up and down its front steps and on the corner next to the spot where the administrators park their shiny cars. But no more. I recently noticed teachers, staff, the principal and the maintenance person walking right past empty Salem packs, beer bottles and newspaper pages. Sometimes, when I'd bend down to scoop up some piece of refuse, they'd just hurry past me. What, are they above doing a little dirty work? Am I the only one who sees the soda can thrown right next to the trash can?

That's when I got mad as *#!* and decided that I wasn't gonna take it anymore. I know, it's petty, selfish, spiteful and narrow minded, but I just want to see how long a certain plastic bag is going to stay on the branch of the tree next to the school's entrance.

Of course, I realize that educators and school personnel have far bigger fish to fry these days. But maybe, just maybe, if kids see their leaders take baby steps to make their school look tidier, it might inspire a spark of pride that sets a tone for true learning.

Then again, maybe sometimes an empty Snickers wrapper is just an empty Snickers wrapper.

We shall see. For now, I'm confining my litter pick-up route to the perimeter around my house and the school crowd will have to fend for themselves.  And trust me, this time, I ain't talkin' trash.

AuthorDiane Bones | Comment1 Comment |

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

EmailEmail Article to Friend

Reader Comments (1)

Good Luck, Di. One can only hope that they will be inspired to pick up after themselves!!
Re

January 12, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterRE

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>