As a Registered Nurse, I have worked in several areas of healthcare ranging from psychiatric nursing, medical surgical nursing, rehabilitative nursing and in the last ten years I have specialized in dementia care in the long term care setting. As I have mentioned before, I believe I have found my place. Our facility was established in 1910 however, ten years ago our facility ventured into a new direction and became an Certified Eden Alternative Facility. If you are not familiar with the Eden Alternative, you can read all about it on-line. Founded in 1991 by Dr. William Thomas, he set out to change the course of nursing homes. One of the primary goals was to battle the "Three Plagues" of nursing home residents. These three plagues are Loneliness, Helplessness and Boredom. If you think about these three plagues, it is easy to understand how they can easily destroy a person's desire to live. Moving to a nursing home means giving up independence and depending on others to provide for your care. It can be humiliating. In our battle to combat these three plagues we offer our residents companionship. Our staff take a personal interest in getting to know the residents. We also make every effort to empower our residents. We offer them choices, and a voice in what they want. We involve residents in our neighborhood meetings and they particiapte in planning the activities they want to do. Then we also offer spontaneity. This is what makes life fun. Doing things on the spot. Regardless what is planned, if another idea comes up, we go with it. Animals in our environment offer spontaneity. If one of our birds escape from their cage and flies around, everyone gets excited and there is laughing while we try capturing it. Today we had a campfire for the residents on one of my neighborhoods. It was chilly outside and it was breezy. The residents were outside sitting around the campfire with blankets wrapped around them and they roasted marshmellows over the fire. We used them to make s'mores and then had hot chocolate. They loved it. It makes their life more enjoyable. It's not exactly home, but it adds enjoyment and it helps in the battling of the three plagues.
Home is where the heart is.....and it sounds like you and your staff have created a best "home" scenario for your residents. I admire that. I would never want to live somewhere where I can't be me. Regardless of how old I am, or how healthy I am. Thank you and your staff for remembering that these residents are humans, with persoalities, and should be treated like that :-)
You are a Saint, Rick! That is one of the hardest things people have to deal with when they get older. Memory loss is so hard on the family too. My agency works with the elderly too, we run the state Medicaid Waiver program and a few other senior programs. So heartbreaking!
Oh, Rick, I am so glad they have you to help the battle the three plagues! I remember going to see my great-grandfather in an old school nursing home back in the early to mid-1970s. It was a pretty frightening place and my grandmother lived in fear of being sent to one because of his experience. May other places become as enlightened. bless you.
Bless you, Rick! I think of my aunt and uncle when you describe what the elderly need. They don't have the Eden Alternative, but also have programs they participate in and have excellent care. I am so thankful there are people like you who can give such loving care and bring peace of mind to the rest of the family.
You do a wonderful job for your residents. I was going to comment earlier on your picture but I as talking to my wife and I wanted to read your comments.
super shot, and rick, this just reinforces what i said yesterday--you ARE a minister. what an incredible way to minister to those precious people. i'm sure you bless them beyond measure.
Great program, I worked with Autistic teens in Australia, and we would take them to the movies, beach, parks, bbq's, malls, bowling, and at Christmas and Easter if they didnt go home to the parents they came home with me.. I loved it and miss them everyday,, they are my boys, even though they are now all in their 20's.... People would ask me what I did at work last night and I would say " we went to the beach" thats not work they would say,, Your right I would answer, its not , and I wouldnt have it any other way.... great picture of your night/day..
Sounds like a great place for your residents. Nice way to make their lives a little better. Nice work and thankful for people like you who make it happen. Nice photo of the camp fire. I am sure they had a great time.
Great picture and great commentary. Those 3 plagues are the demons of humanity, in or out of institutions. There is nothing worse than feeling powerless and purposeless. It is good to learn of a school of thought with a goal of counteracting these 3 demons. Thanks for educating us.
I *knew* you worked someplace special when I saw some of your previous pictures and read what you'd written! What you write here is about everything a person would desire in nursing care! I know of two very unhappy stories regarding elderly friends who are not getting that sort of environment...it's been a source of pain and consternation amongst those of us who cared about them. I'll spare you the volume I could write! Fortunate are those in your care...it sounds like they'll continue *living* for the rest of their lives. It must be incredibly gratifying to you to have a part in this, and for them, I can't think of a nicer person to know down at the end of the road!
that is very cool what you and the other nurses are doing, I see alot of horrible things nursing homes do and how they treat the residents and your right its not easy on them at all. I really hope other homes take your example and help them understand its more than just a business, it's real people and feelings your dealing with as well
What a wonderful special and caring man you are,those residents sure are lucky to have you and such a wonderful home to be in.
Great pic of the "camp fire"!
It sounds like you all make it a very special place. Those three plagues are something to keep in mind as our parents get older and we are more responsible for their care. Thank you again for the words that you share with your photos.
You have a wonderful job. The fact that you enjoy it makes you such a caring person!!! My Grandmother was recently put into a home, it's a hard thing for a family to do....but caring people like you make it a little less scary for the families....Thank You!!!!
I've said it before but your pictures and your words and when I first found out about your being a nurse I knew you would be one of the special ones. One that makes a persons day with caring love and private prayer, not breaks it with rudeness, lack of time and insensitivity. You have such a unique special depth of character that comes across in your 365 project it must come across in other areas of your life too. I may not have met you personally but I think you are a truely amazing person :)
Great shot, Rick. It's true, and when residents have a hard time adjusting their health can suffer. Thank you for your dedication and care for your residents.
I admire you Rick. The job that you have chosen works best for you is one of the hardest to do. I admire the respect you show to us for the people you care for. I admire that you can put into words what you feel about what you do. Those you care for are truly blessed to have you on their side.
Love the campfire and the fact you did it for your residents!! You are a beautiful person for caring as so many don't! They are happy when busy...I have 2 I help out in their homes and they can be very trying! It is best to treat them as individual people and interact with them!
They really need people like you working there!
Really nice accompanying shot, too!!!
Beautiful portrait, it sounds like you had a very good day :)
Great pic of the "camp fire"!
Great shot.