Posted on November 14, 2012 - by Nurse Virginia
PART II
?Are you leaving ?already??? My Mother ended every visit with those words, no matter how long I was there visiting, the last words I heard were always ?Are you leaving already??
Then I had an idea ? if Mom had something she was going to, looked forward to, wanted to do, it would be easier for her to say ?goodbye.? I had been taking Mom to eat in the main dining room, thinking she would enjoy ordering from a menu and seeing different people for a change. But then I realized that Mom no longer could really see her surroundings, and no longer really knew anyone in that area of the nursing community. Now, she really enjoyed eating in the Health Care center where she lived and missed the friends she ate with when she wasn?t there.
Instead of going to the dining room, what she really enjoyed was having me come, spend time visiting and reading to her from her favorite book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. So I started coming earlier, and spending more time before the noon meal ? then when it is time to eat lunch she is eager to go to the dining room, see her friends she always sits with and have her lunch. This makes saying goodbye so much easier, and I leave with a smile on my face, because there is a smile on her face.
Guilt ?Nursing Home Placement
Many times families are uncertain about their roles as caregivers after admission to a Nursing Home. When decisions and direct care tasks are transferred to the responsibility of the facility the family caregiver can easily feel guilty. ?Many times how they feel is determined by the amount of support they feel from the Nursing Home staff. ?If the family is included in decision making and considered part of the team, instead of made to feel they are in the way, the family member can continue to feel useful and needed.
Feeling like you are an important member of the care team, replaces feelings of guilt
- Get to know people ? join a family council or family support group. I know several people who years after the loss of their loved one, continue to get together with members of the family support group. They still value those people who supported them when they needed it the most.
- Attend any educational opportunities offered at the Nursing Facility.
- Ask the Administrator if the facility has a ?wish list? of things they need. Then spearhead an effort to help the facility get those ?would be nice to have? items.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Author: Please Get To Know Me ? Aging with Dignity and Relevance
www.pleasegettoknowme.com
big ten tournament 2012 dennis quaid bruce weber fired notorious big biggie smalls lyrics azores emmylou harris
No comments:
Post a Comment