When you think of sunshine......I immediately think of the warm rays of the sun warming the chair where I sit or making patterns on the carpet.
To the handicapped it might mean an opportunity to get out without the frigid wind and cold temperatures. To the caregiver it means all an opportunity to just walk around the yard and inhale the freshness of the day.
Sunshine is also one of the best medicines to push away depression and heartache. My husband is often depressed because of the inability to do what he has always done and the lack of mobility to move where he would like to go. This morning I asked if he would like to go out into the sunshine for awhile. To move around in the yard and watch the feline residents at play.
He declined the invitation because of pain and general discomfort. Perhaps later in the day another opportunity will arise. A caregiver may feel such awakening and infusion of energy and strength in the sunshine but a patient doesn't always respond in the same manner. We have to wait and try again and hope for a change in emotional wellness.
Sunshine awakens the plants and brings new life upward and we all want the same thing for the patient. That feeling of renewal of life in the patient would be rewarding for both the caregiver and the patient. Just watching the felines that inhabit our yard you would think spring had arrived on the morning sunrise. The small kittens at play and the adults resting on the bales of hay that I have added to the yard in special places for windbreaks gives your heart a surge of good feeling.
Yes, you read that correctly. I have added bales of hay in places in the yard to provide windbreaks. Later this spring those bales of hay will retreat to the barn/shop and some will be broken up to add mulch to the flower beds. This is the first time I have purchased hay for the windbreaks but it seemed a good idea. I even like to go out and perch on a bale of hay and hold a cat or rub the back on another feline that is sitting beside me.
Just to keep the record straight. These are not my cats. They are the refuse of the unthinking people who give their children kittens and later abandon them to starvation or the wild animals. All I provide is an opening into the shop/barn so they can get away from dogs or other wild things, plenty of water (ice broken in the winter) and food (dry, canned, and table scraps). I have also constructed temperary shelters behind the trash cans and behind the hay and under benches so they are generally out of the wind and worst of the chill.
Yes, it is costly but the enjoyment and entertainment that is provided for my husband has far exceeded the cost in my estimation. We have had 2 males fixed! This I didn't know... that the males are the most affectionate of the sexes and make excellent house cats. My mother had a house cat that now lives mostly in the car garage because of her/his nasty attitude toward all others, sometimes even humans. That cats plenty of petting and attention when the other cats are not around. There is a young kitten that may also get to the vet soon because he has lived well with the other two. He came in originally because he was sick and has stayed a lot of time inside.
It has been a beautiful day. These are rare in the middle of winter. The sunshine has been warm and full bodied not thin and unfulfilling. Hope your sunshine has made you happy as well.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
why visit the handicapped/NOT without a call first
Too often the doorbell rings or some knocks and the patient is in the middle of a bath or isn't feeling very well. For a while I used signs on the door and still do but people who just drop in have to realize some of these times are not good times.
The caregiver has to balance hospitality against patient welfare and at times this is difficult. I just love it when someone says," just go ahead with what you are doing I will set here and talk to you. Sure I am doing medications for the week and making mistakes are not the best for the patient. I always check each day to be sure the medications are correct. But it is inconvenient to always go get the med bag and redo a days medications.
"Just go ahead with what you are doing".... giving the patient a bath? No it isn't possible. We need space and sometimes we need things from the room where you are sitting and opening doors reduces privacy for the patient.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing", fixing the meal for the patient and his eating in front of you isn't always pleasant. Sometimes there are spills or other mishaps that are embarrassing. Besides I like to sit down and eat or have coffee with Jack when he is eating.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing." Taking a nap that you just woke me up from so I can be more alert tonight. Now I won't be able to finish the nap and the patient might have a cranky caregiver when awakened in the night! LOL
" Just go ahead with what you are doing". Well we were getting ready to go to the doctor and your sitting here talking to us makes the check list of things NOT to forget a little less effective. Besides we take about 10 minutes to finish up things and get into the car.... you are sitting in the way and I hate to say please leave so we can because we are on a tight schedule.
Is this only at our house? Sunday mornings are getting hectic. We have a drop in guest most Sundays who come for coffee and chat. This means I have to rush to get the house ready.. the coffee on... myself dressed for church.... Jack ready for the day....etc. Jack sometimes has a drop in guest that sits with him while I go to church, I need the coffee fresh and ready and something like coffee cake ready.
If people would just call ahead and ask how Jack is feeling and if it is convenient for them to drop by for coffee and chat.... I would be thrilled and I would seldom say no but I do wish people would respect our lifestyle. It is different from theirs and one day they may have the same frustrations.
The caregiver has to balance hospitality against patient welfare and at times this is difficult. I just love it when someone says," just go ahead with what you are doing I will set here and talk to you. Sure I am doing medications for the week and making mistakes are not the best for the patient. I always check each day to be sure the medications are correct. But it is inconvenient to always go get the med bag and redo a days medications.
"Just go ahead with what you are doing".... giving the patient a bath? No it isn't possible. We need space and sometimes we need things from the room where you are sitting and opening doors reduces privacy for the patient.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing", fixing the meal for the patient and his eating in front of you isn't always pleasant. Sometimes there are spills or other mishaps that are embarrassing. Besides I like to sit down and eat or have coffee with Jack when he is eating.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing." Taking a nap that you just woke me up from so I can be more alert tonight. Now I won't be able to finish the nap and the patient might have a cranky caregiver when awakened in the night! LOL
" Just go ahead with what you are doing". Well we were getting ready to go to the doctor and your sitting here talking to us makes the check list of things NOT to forget a little less effective. Besides we take about 10 minutes to finish up things and get into the car.... you are sitting in the way and I hate to say please leave so we can because we are on a tight schedule.
Is this only at our house? Sunday mornings are getting hectic. We have a drop in guest most Sundays who come for coffee and chat. This means I have to rush to get the house ready.. the coffee on... myself dressed for church.... Jack ready for the day....etc. Jack sometimes has a drop in guest that sits with him while I go to church, I need the coffee fresh and ready and something like coffee cake ready.
If people would just call ahead and ask how Jack is feeling and if it is convenient for them to drop by for coffee and chat.... I would be thrilled and I would seldom say no but I do wish people would respect our lifestyle. It is different from theirs and one day they may have the same frustrations.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas on the receiving end.
It is so enjoyable to be on the giving end during the holidays. We enjoyed making the food baskets and delivering them. Giving gifts to the unsuspecting. Just the kind of little things that surprise and warm the heart.
Today we were on the receiving end of blessings. We had to call the paramedics at 1 this morning. Jack fell and because of his size and knowing if he is injured helping him up might be harmful. I called 911. The first responder was a neighbor. The second was the son of a neighbor that I had had difficulties with because of his dogs which love to kill other creatures.
The paramedics and the others helped Jack up and checked him out and he is fine except a little frightened, very sore, and not sure just how it happened. But he has had a fairly good day.
The other blessings were three families brought food to us so we would have a good Christmas dinner. Well we will be eating for a week but the food was prepared with loving hands and good hearts delivered it. We feel very blessed.
The day was not cold and windy. The sun was out all day and it was pleasant and again we felt very blessed since so much of the nation was not so pleasant.
We didn't have family but we had friends and our girls called and made our day blessed in that way,too.
I hope all of you have something to be thankful for today and feel as blessed as we do...Happy Holidays and Joy for the coming new year.
Today we were on the receiving end of blessings. We had to call the paramedics at 1 this morning. Jack fell and because of his size and knowing if he is injured helping him up might be harmful. I called 911. The first responder was a neighbor. The second was the son of a neighbor that I had had difficulties with because of his dogs which love to kill other creatures.
The paramedics and the others helped Jack up and checked him out and he is fine except a little frightened, very sore, and not sure just how it happened. But he has had a fairly good day.
The other blessings were three families brought food to us so we would have a good Christmas dinner. Well we will be eating for a week but the food was prepared with loving hands and good hearts delivered it. We feel very blessed.
The day was not cold and windy. The sun was out all day and it was pleasant and again we felt very blessed since so much of the nation was not so pleasant.
We didn't have family but we had friends and our girls called and made our day blessed in that way,too.
I hope all of you have something to be thankful for today and feel as blessed as we do...Happy Holidays and Joy for the coming new year.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Whether to recommend or not...that is the question.
Have you ever recommended something to find out later that it didn't turn out well for the person you recommended the idea or thing to? Well, I am always reluctant to recommend anything but recently I recommended the facility where Mom was to a friend. I also recommended that she and her family go visit un announced several times at different times of the day.
I am happy to say that they followed my advice and finally decided to place thier mother in the same facility. They are happy to know that she is receiving better care than they could provide and that is is extremely happy. The lady just had her 106 birthday at the facility with a big party of family and friends, a large beautiful picture and write up in the local paper, and the family not only praised the facility but thanked me for the recommendation. Whee...sure am glad things worked out well.
What they liked was.....the facility didn't have lingering odors, the patients were encouraged and assisted in going to the dining room to eat and be with other patients, the rooms were cleaned and beds made as quickly as the patients left for the dining room. Patients were bathed regularily and dressed daily and encouraged to wear perfume and jewelry and always look their best. Mom's hair was done regularily and neatly brushed and cared for daily. They had volunteers and employees who did nails and aroma therapy with lotions and creams. Laundry in facilities is always a problems but there are fewer than most here and I was allowed to go to the laundry and look for items or ask if they were in the cleaning process. The lady in charge was caring and quick to label clothing and see that it was returned quickly to the patients rooms. The food was actually good. And prepared and served per patients needs. I could not have asked for more attention paid to Mom's food intake and nutrition.
I have to say that these all are good qualities of a facility and often cause families to leave the patients and not return very often or at all. Mom had a lovely roommate that passed and the aides said they had never seen a visitor since the lady had been brought in. Some said the families just brought them and left them because they were state cared for....but in Mom's case she was a full paying patient. But the care for each was the same. The aides talked to the patients and joked with them, sang with them, and became the patients family. I liked this because Mom felt loved and part of the people there, and she enjoyed the people around her. These are the things I looked for and hope if you are looking for a facility.. that you can find the same.
Of course you have to do your part of checking often, visiting often, talking to the administration, nurses, aidies, and letting them know how much you appreciate the care they are giving your family member. Actual signs of that appreciation in the form of candy, cookies, and other goodies was always appreciated.
I am happy to say that they followed my advice and finally decided to place thier mother in the same facility. They are happy to know that she is receiving better care than they could provide and that is is extremely happy. The lady just had her 106 birthday at the facility with a big party of family and friends, a large beautiful picture and write up in the local paper, and the family not only praised the facility but thanked me for the recommendation. Whee...sure am glad things worked out well.
What they liked was.....the facility didn't have lingering odors, the patients were encouraged and assisted in going to the dining room to eat and be with other patients, the rooms were cleaned and beds made as quickly as the patients left for the dining room. Patients were bathed regularily and dressed daily and encouraged to wear perfume and jewelry and always look their best. Mom's hair was done regularily and neatly brushed and cared for daily. They had volunteers and employees who did nails and aroma therapy with lotions and creams. Laundry in facilities is always a problems but there are fewer than most here and I was allowed to go to the laundry and look for items or ask if they were in the cleaning process. The lady in charge was caring and quick to label clothing and see that it was returned quickly to the patients rooms. The food was actually good. And prepared and served per patients needs. I could not have asked for more attention paid to Mom's food intake and nutrition.
I have to say that these all are good qualities of a facility and often cause families to leave the patients and not return very often or at all. Mom had a lovely roommate that passed and the aides said they had never seen a visitor since the lady had been brought in. Some said the families just brought them and left them because they were state cared for....but in Mom's case she was a full paying patient. But the care for each was the same. The aides talked to the patients and joked with them, sang with them, and became the patients family. I liked this because Mom felt loved and part of the people there, and she enjoyed the people around her. These are the things I looked for and hope if you are looking for a facility.. that you can find the same.
Of course you have to do your part of checking often, visiting often, talking to the administration, nurses, aidies, and letting them know how much you appreciate the care they are giving your family member. Actual signs of that appreciation in the form of candy, cookies, and other goodies was always appreciated.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
It is the season for remembering..........
This will be a quiet Christmas for us. We will be alone but that isn't new to us. Our girls are in California and they were here in October.
It will be lonely because Mom isn't with us anymore and I do miss her the way she used to be during the holidays. We always did so many things for others and I want to continue that tradition but not so much this year.
I haven't started cards yet......... I hate to write over and over that we lost Mom this year, and Jack isn't doing as well, we miss our girls, and I don't have enough hours in the day still. But perhaps I can say all of that in a more positive way. It is the season for remembering all the good times and memories that we have made. And hoping to not only make new memories but to dream of good things to come.
May your holiday be joyful, full of fun, and overflowing with friends and family memories. Hug each other...share a memory...and remember the reason for the season.
It will be lonely because Mom isn't with us anymore and I do miss her the way she used to be during the holidays. We always did so many things for others and I want to continue that tradition but not so much this year.
I haven't started cards yet......... I hate to write over and over that we lost Mom this year, and Jack isn't doing as well, we miss our girls, and I don't have enough hours in the day still. But perhaps I can say all of that in a more positive way. It is the season for remembering all the good times and memories that we have made. And hoping to not only make new memories but to dream of good things to come.
May your holiday be joyful, full of fun, and overflowing with friends and family memories. Hug each other...share a memory...and remember the reason for the season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)