WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 - SENIOR WORK - CONTINUED

 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 - SENIOR WORK - CONTINUED

This week I’ve been writing about my one-year anniversary as a “Personal Care Assistant” at a senior living complex.  Today some of the issues.

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DEATHS

During this year, two of my former residents died.  One of them was more significant as she was one of the first residents I met.  She was a very pleasant, gracious lady, 96 years old.  Early on she confided to me (and probably to anyone she met) that she was ready to “go home”.  She didn’t like to sit still and I’d see her roaming around the halls before I stopped to remind her of her medications - and again as I was finishing my shift she would be walking around.  I prayed with her a few times.

She had a fall and after the fall she was assigned to the memory care unit.  And, within two weeks in the memory care unit, she died (and her wish to “go home” was met).  

Another lady I sometimes visited went into hospice care and died quickly after.  I didn’t know her as well. 

MOVES

Three of my residents moved out of the facility.  One lady went berserk.  I visited her and her husband and before long she was babbling about seeing things.  She went into a secure memory unit (not belonging to this facility).  I see her husband as I pass through the cafeteria and say “hi” to him every time I can.  

The second was a man in his 90s - who had (seemingly) become an alcoholic after his wife’s passing.  One day as I stopped to remind him of his medications, he was on the floor and couldn’t get up.  He was a substantial man (that is, he was too heavy for me to pick up).  He had rehab, and coming back to this independent living facility, he fell again and was moved to a veterans affairs senior site.  

The third was a lady who seemed to have withdrawn from life.  Another resident said she was ‘always’ involved in a lot of activities and then just pulled back.  When I visited her twice in the evening (she had so many pills that I was to visit twice) she was almost a recluse.  I was to bring her dinner from the dining room.  Seemingly she had been one of the real estate leaders in the area before retiring.  She moved to a different facility.  I’m not sure why, other than that she and her daughter were very close and the daughter seemed to have a lot of influence over her.

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COMMENTS:

(I’ll have more comments tomorrow)

I’ve written in the past about “Waiting for Godot” - basically waiting for God.  How does one live out the final years of his or her life?  

Hebrews chapter 4 talks about “entering into God’s Rest”

(Three snippets from Hebrews 4 about entering God’s rest)

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it

“Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience”

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

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I don’t know and don’t understand death, eternity, and infinity.  But I “believe” there is something more.  Not all people do - and I can only ‘believe’ for myself.  They might be right, I might be right, or others might be right!!!

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But, whatever is ahead, I also believe there is a moral obligation to honor our seniors.  If we ALL are made in the image and likeness of GOD - maybe the mentally handicapped child or the 103-year-old senior are still in the image and likeness of God, just like the CEO making 20 million dollars a year.  

I have learned from the folks I work with at this senior facility.  The lady I spend two hours with twice a week is special, as is the alcoholic man (above), or the crazed lady (above).  

The body is one aspect of our life.  I need to take care of it.  But, yesterday, I ate ice cream, fried chicken nuggets, and French Fries!!  There was a day in the past week I only walked two miles.  I am trying to avoid diabetes, dementia, falling, hardening of the arteries, stroke, heart attacks, and cancer - but the reality is - Karen White is going to die someday.  It might be today - or it might be in 30 years.  How do I want to spend that time? 

For me at age 75, how I spend my time is probably different from how I will spend my time at age 95.  Will I still be writing a daily blog at age 95?  Will I still be walking five miles a day at age 95?  Will I be living independently at age 95?  Will I be able to read, write, think, act at age 95?  (Will I be playing my tuba at age 95?)

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Tomorrow a look at the dementia memory care unit.  

LOVE WINS!!

Karen White, September 28, 2022, Senior Living, ©