A Couple Happy Lessons from Nursing Home Land

Sometimes it can be very sad to work in a nursing home. For sure there are sometimes the typical frustrations that are likely to occur in any job.

But here we generally meet people during the worst times in their lives- often we meet them during the last days, weeks or months of their lives. Sometimes we know someone is likely to pass away soon. Other times, we don't know..the person seems fine and then passes away soon after they move from our facility.

Other times people who have been independent their whole lives are frustrated with the challenges and limitations that occur to injury and disability. Today I helped a lady who was crying and saying she wished she would die, for she was so frustrated with her condition. To many this probably seems like a depressing field in which to earn one's daily bread.

So while all of us try our best to offer encouragement and hope, sometimes it is good to remember the joyful moments that occur in a nursing home. Here are some of the recent ones that come to mind:

~ a family lovingly tending to their loved one who is in the last days of life. Heartbreaking to see but good to see examples of pure love

~ it is a good feeling to help someone to do a task that they haven't done in weeks, such as sit on a commode

~ a lady who due to her frustrations has sometimes snapped at me and been somewhat sarcastic and hasn't wished to participate in therapy, recently was joyfully surprised due to the visit of a couple of her friends. I'd left the room for a moment, and this lady was fine. When I returned a few moments later, the friends had arrived and this patient was crying. For a moment the friends were concerned and asked me if they should leave, I explained this lady's tears were tears of joy and happiness due to seeing her friends. While I finished assisting this lady to get ready for the visit with her friends, she said "is this for real?" In restrospect, I just wish I'd thought to ask our secretary to get a picture of all of them together.

~ a sweet gentleman told me he had the "best wife in the world!"-- I told someone else what he'd said, and this gentleman further clarified that his wife was the "best wife in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!" How wonderful for his wife to be loved in that manner!

~ I was sitting at one of the nurse's stations, doing some notes. A young girl- maybe 8 or 9- I am terrible at guessing ages- came up and told one of the nurses that they needed some towels for her grandma's room, as something had accidentally spilled in the room. The nurse said "what is your grandma's name"..and the young girl replied, "well usually I just call her 'sweet affectionate nickname for grandma' " They figured out who her grandma was, but it was a precious moment as there are at least a couple dozen grandmas residing on that floor!

~ and in moments of stress, there is usually something sweet to eat..today it was white chocolate macademia nut cookies that were left over from the monthly memorial service. (Sad event- each month they honor those patients who have passed away in the last month or so). But hey, it had been a long day and the cookies were good!

Anyway- hope that gives you a little insight into some of the reasons I enjoy my job despite the sad moments!