Posts
Bank Account of Memories
The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud mother-in-law of my best friend, who is
fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and
makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home
today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
Maurine Jones is the most lovely, gracious, dignified woman that I have ever had the
pleasure of meeting. While I have never aspired to attain her depth of wisdom, I do
pray that I will learn from her vast experience.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled
sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator,
I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had
been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-yearold
having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room ... just wait."
That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you
decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the
furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it...
"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the
day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work,
or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as
my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away ...
just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account ... you withdraw from it what you've put in ...So, my
advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories."
Helping Seniors beat the Heat - Libby Deege
Friday, July 22, 2011
Older citizens are more vulnerable than younger individuals because they do not adjust as well to the heat, they perspire less, and they are more likely to have health problems that require medicines that work against the body's natural thermometer. A sudden or prolonged increase in temperatures can place a strain on the heart and blood vessels before the body can acclimate itself
When the temperatures begin to creep up, take immediate action. The following tips from Dr. Robert Luchi, Professor of Medicine-Geriatrics, can help you beat the heat:
Keep cool. Air conditioning can be a lifesaver, especially if you have heart disease. If you don't have air conditioning, head to a cool shopping center, senior center, library, movie theater, or place of worship.
Cool baths or showers can provide relief. Ice bags and wet towels are also helpful.
Beware of dehydration; drink plenty of water even if you are not thirsty.
Curtail physical activity during extremely hot weather. Activity adds to heart strain.
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing your body to lose water.
Limit salt use.
Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing. Don't forget to wear a hat or carry an umbrella to protect your head and neck when you are outdoors.
Take the heat seriously. Dizziness, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, nausea, headache, chest pain, mental changes or breathing problems are warning signs that you should seek immediate medical attention
When the temperatures begin to creep up, take immediate action. The following tips from Dr. Robert Luchi, Professor of Medicine-Geriatrics, can help you beat the heat:
Keep cool. Air conditioning can be a lifesaver, especially if you have heart disease. If you don't have air conditioning, head to a cool shopping center, senior center, library, movie theater, or place of worship.
Cool baths or showers can provide relief. Ice bags and wet towels are also helpful.
Beware of dehydration; drink plenty of water even if you are not thirsty.
Curtail physical activity during extremely hot weather. Activity adds to heart strain.
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing your body to lose water.
Limit salt use.
Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing. Don't forget to wear a hat or carry an umbrella to protect your head and neck when you are outdoors.
Take the heat seriously. Dizziness, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, nausea, headache, chest pain, mental changes or breathing problems are warning signs that you should seek immediate medical attention
CAREGiver of the Month Shares her favorite caregiving story...
Friday, July 15, 2011
Angie Sieren has been selected for the CAREGiver of the month for the month of June. Angie was chosen because she has been doing an excellent job picking up fill-ins and going above and beyond for her clients. She has a genuine heart that desires to get to know her clients well, which results in trust and friendship.
"When I first met Willie, he was very protective of his home and the responsibilities he wanted me to take care of. PROUD would be the word to best describe this man of a 5 foot stature. But when I met him it seemed as if he were more like 6 foot tall. He would shuffle behind me pushing his walker everywhere I went while I was doing the chores he had asked of me, making sure I was doing it the RIGHT way....as in HIS WAY. Keep in mind he lived in a tiny little one bedroom trailer. As time went on, Willie began to share more about himself, his time in World War II, and memories of his beloved wife. In turn, he also began to ask more about my life and me. As the days grew into weeks and the weeks turned into months, Willie and I chatted like we were old time friends. He began making me breakfast every morning and this was a huge feat for him as he was partially blind in both eyes. So the task was a major undertaking, but one he was so very proud of. My most fond memory of my time with Willie was when we spent an hour going through old albums. The ones he and his wife would listen and dance to for hours. I will never forget the day he played his favorite on his old record player. We were sitting at his kitchen table. I was listening and laughing to so many of his old stories. He got up from the kitchen table and shuffled into his living room. He was smiling and laughing. He then turned and asked if I would join him on the dance floor. It was a fast one so I wasn't sure if I could keep up. But he waved one hand in the air while holding tightly onto his walker with the other. I popped out of my chair and waved my hands wildly in the air just trying to keep up. When the song was over. I hugged him and thanked him not only for the dance but sharing so many specials memories of his with me. I told him how honored I was that he shared such special memories with me. Our relationship as client and caregiver developed into one of being friends. From that day on Willie no longer shuffled after me to make sure I was doing what I needed to do. He now would sit at the kitchen table and chat w me as I moved about his house cleaning and doing laundry. Always wanting me to take a break and sit to chat or to drink a soda of his or eat a snickers candy bar that he had purchased because he knew that they were
my favorite. I had done it. I had earned this man's trust and was able to bring many smiles and laughter into a house that once was so very quiet and lonely. I will always remember how nervous I was my very first shift. But now all I can remember is how fortunate I was to be a part of Willie's life....to have been trusted....to have been loved by such an amazing human being. I am grateful to HISC for the experiences I have been given. My words of widsom to others would be: Remember you are ALWAYS a guest in your clients home. That what our clients are asking of us to come and do is scary for them.....it's also very brave...and so very humbling. That each senior is unique and special so go out of your way each and every shift to make your client feel that way. Be compassionate and kind. I have been blessed with the relationships I have developed in the last 4 and 1/2 years."
Angie found Home Instead Senior Care through a search on the internet. She was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years and decided it was time to do something for her. She wanted a part-time job that would offer her flexible hours. Working with seniors appealed to her because while she was growing up she would volunteer at a nursing home with her mom. Angie says, “It was time to do something for me.” What she didn’t expect was how much she received in return, from her clients. CAREGiving has been an excellent match for her because it has allowed her to maintain flexibility to continue to raise and be active in her children’s lives.
Working with and helping people have always been an active part of Angie’s life. Prior to CAREGiving Angie worked with children with special needs, she was a substance abuse counselor for teens and their parents, and as stated earlier she would volunteer with her mom at the nursing home. When she went into the nursing home she would read to the residents, bring them kittens to pet/play with, and sometimes her mom made her ride the horse to the nursing home so the residents could feed them apples and carrots. It was all of this that molded Angie into the successful CAREGiver she is today.
She grew up in Keota, Iowa (south eastern part of the state). She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Simpson college. Angie married her high school sweetheart in 1993, they now have 2 daughters who are 14 and 12. Kurt, Angie’s husband was relocated, for his job, to Minnesota but they relocated back 5 years ago and they currently live in Johnston. Here their girls are very active in school/sports. This keeps Kurt and Angie busy, but they love watching their girls grow and do what they love. When Angie isn’t busy at one of her girls’ sporting events she enjoys being outside, boating, grilling, shopping, reading, and just spending some down time as a family.
"When I first met Willie, he was very protective of his home and the responsibilities he wanted me to take care of. PROUD would be the word to best describe this man of a 5 foot stature. But when I met him it seemed as if he were more like 6 foot tall. He would shuffle behind me pushing his walker everywhere I went while I was doing the chores he had asked of me, making sure I was doing it the RIGHT way....as in HIS WAY. Keep in mind he lived in a tiny little one bedroom trailer. As time went on, Willie began to share more about himself, his time in World War II, and memories of his beloved wife. In turn, he also began to ask more about my life and me. As the days grew into weeks and the weeks turned into months, Willie and I chatted like we were old time friends. He began making me breakfast every morning and this was a huge feat for him as he was partially blind in both eyes. So the task was a major undertaking, but one he was so very proud of. My most fond memory of my time with Willie was when we spent an hour going through old albums. The ones he and his wife would listen and dance to for hours. I will never forget the day he played his favorite on his old record player. We were sitting at his kitchen table. I was listening and laughing to so many of his old stories. He got up from the kitchen table and shuffled into his living room. He was smiling and laughing. He then turned and asked if I would join him on the dance floor. It was a fast one so I wasn't sure if I could keep up. But he waved one hand in the air while holding tightly onto his walker with the other. I popped out of my chair and waved my hands wildly in the air just trying to keep up. When the song was over. I hugged him and thanked him not only for the dance but sharing so many specials memories of his with me. I told him how honored I was that he shared such special memories with me. Our relationship as client and caregiver developed into one of being friends. From that day on Willie no longer shuffled after me to make sure I was doing what I needed to do. He now would sit at the kitchen table and chat w me as I moved about his house cleaning and doing laundry. Always wanting me to take a break and sit to chat or to drink a soda of his or eat a snickers candy bar that he had purchased because he knew that they were
my favorite. I had done it. I had earned this man's trust and was able to bring many smiles and laughter into a house that once was so very quiet and lonely. I will always remember how nervous I was my very first shift. But now all I can remember is how fortunate I was to be a part of Willie's life....to have been trusted....to have been loved by such an amazing human being. I am grateful to HISC for the experiences I have been given. My words of widsom to others would be: Remember you are ALWAYS a guest in your clients home. That what our clients are asking of us to come and do is scary for them.....it's also very brave...and so very humbling. That each senior is unique and special so go out of your way each and every shift to make your client feel that way. Be compassionate and kind. I have been blessed with the relationships I have developed in the last 4 and 1/2 years."
Angie found Home Instead Senior Care through a search on the internet. She was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years and decided it was time to do something for her. She wanted a part-time job that would offer her flexible hours. Working with seniors appealed to her because while she was growing up she would volunteer at a nursing home with her mom. Angie says, “It was time to do something for me.” What she didn’t expect was how much she received in return, from her clients. CAREGiving has been an excellent match for her because it has allowed her to maintain flexibility to continue to raise and be active in her children’s lives.
Working with and helping people have always been an active part of Angie’s life. Prior to CAREGiving Angie worked with children with special needs, she was a substance abuse counselor for teens and their parents, and as stated earlier she would volunteer with her mom at the nursing home. When she went into the nursing home she would read to the residents, bring them kittens to pet/play with, and sometimes her mom made her ride the horse to the nursing home so the residents could feed them apples and carrots. It was all of this that molded Angie into the successful CAREGiver she is today.
She grew up in Keota, Iowa (south eastern part of the state). She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Simpson college. Angie married her high school sweetheart in 1993, they now have 2 daughters who are 14 and 12. Kurt, Angie’s husband was relocated, for his job, to Minnesota but they relocated back 5 years ago and they currently live in Johnston. Here their girls are very active in school/sports. This keeps Kurt and Angie busy, but they love watching their girls grow and do what they love. When Angie isn’t busy at one of her girls’ sporting events she enjoys being outside, boating, grilling, shopping, reading, and just spending some down time as a family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)