senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose
so before you think I'm a terrible person I'll just say I love the movie Dumb and Dumber and since I'll be writing about senior citizens today and didn't have a great title, I though Lloyd Christmas would be appropriately not appropriate.
I'm scared to death of nursing homes. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say, where to sit...nothing. I'm a fish out of water. My co-workers mother had to be put in the nursing home and she faithfully goes up each day at lunch to sit with her while she eats. And if you remember here, we have another special man to visit in the nursing home.
I'll admit that I hadn't been up to see him lately and Bonnie told me several days that he asked where I was, so I made time, put the important things first and up to the nursing home I went. I sat at a table of mostly wonderful old guys for lunch. I cut slathered baked potatoes in butter and sour cream, I cut up pork loin, I poured water, I handed out napkins, I told the happenings of McKinnon, WY, I listened about the old days and water on Cedar Mountain, I learned about the pipefitters union and how Roger's son "stole his new Nikes" when his legs were amputated due to diabetes and yes I even got told that "No, you don't need to cut my meat up, I can't eat it anyway...I don't have any teeth!" from Everett, with a grin of course.
Smiles spread across their faces as I said my goodbyes and told them that I was glad that I got to sit with them during lunch.
So many neat folks are put in nursing homes and often times forgotten. While its not comfortable for me to go there, its something I want to do (with Bonnie's help of course). It makes their day for sure and might even be the highlight of their week.
I walked out of the nursing home that day.....wanting to leave with 3 new "grandpas".
I'm scared to death of nursing homes. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say, where to sit...nothing. I'm a fish out of water. My co-workers mother had to be put in the nursing home and she faithfully goes up each day at lunch to sit with her while she eats. And if you remember here, we have another special man to visit in the nursing home.
I'll admit that I hadn't been up to see him lately and Bonnie told me several days that he asked where I was, so I made time, put the important things first and up to the nursing home I went. I sat at a table of mostly wonderful old guys for lunch. I cut slathered baked potatoes in butter and sour cream, I cut up pork loin, I poured water, I handed out napkins, I told the happenings of McKinnon, WY, I listened about the old days and water on Cedar Mountain, I learned about the pipefitters union and how Roger's son "stole his new Nikes" when his legs were amputated due to diabetes and yes I even got told that "No, you don't need to cut my meat up, I can't eat it anyway...I don't have any teeth!" from Everett, with a grin of course.
Smiles spread across their faces as I said my goodbyes and told them that I was glad that I got to sit with them during lunch.
So many neat folks are put in nursing homes and often times forgotten. While its not comfortable for me to go there, its something I want to do (with Bonnie's help of course). It makes their day for sure and might even be the highlight of their week.
I walked out of the nursing home that day.....wanting to leave with 3 new "grandpas".
This is really sweet. And while it may not be a comfortable experience for you, both the residents and you will get a lot out of your time visiting. Also, the more you visit, the more comfortable you'll be there! Good for you!
ReplyDelete-Amy