Sunday, March 21, 2010

You're right Pat, Mom and Dad have to be somewhere like LNC...unfortunately, none of us are capable of taking them into our home and giving them 24/7 care....they need more than we can give. I just don't want the staff of LNC (or any nursing home, but this one especially because of Mom and Dad) to give up on their patients...not just our Mom and Dad, but all the other Moms and Dads, Grandmothers and Grandfathers, etc. that are residents there. As a society we throw away are elderly anyway, but a place that's suppose to specialize in elderly care should be advocates for them, not follow society status quo. If there is a problem with the head nurse...attitude or otherwise, then we have an obligation and frankly a right to speak up. And furthermore, I think we have a right to ask and expect...of course within reason..that they do what's right for Mom and Dad individually. It's kind of like teaching school...if all your students were on the same level and progressing along at the same level and had no learning difficulties in any area, and they all came from super families that were major supportive of education and on and on, then teaching would be ALOT less work and so much easier, but we know that's not how life is...The same should hold true for LNC...sure not all patients would like to listen to music and beat on a drum, but some might. Not all would want to play cards or even be capable of playing cards, but some might. They should offer lots of different things, stimulating things and calming things. Okay who's the dreamer now!!:) I've read a lot about music and what it can do for the elderly and especially alzheimer's patients..it's really remarkable. Jerry and I have a friend out of New York who works with the elderly in hospitals and nursing homes and the inspirational stories he tells will bring you to tears...he told me about a woman suffering from alzheimer's who was bed ridden and didn't speak or really communicate with her family much anymore. Frank went to see her and asked if he could play the harmonica for her and sing her a song. He began to play "My Bonney Lies Over the Ocean". He noticed a spark, a sudden awareness in her eyes, so he stopped playing and began to sing...my Bonney lies over the...and the woman said ocean right before Frank did. He continued to sing and she continued to chime in right on cue....her daughter cried and said it was the first time she'd spoken in over a month. We all want what's best for Mom and Dad and therefore it will be a struggle, but one worth fighting for...as I've said before, because we give a crap, it's hard work. Love, Jamie

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