Yes, raise your hand, if you're one of those people who makes a New Year's resolution to read more? That's me, too. In my day-to-day work, I'm always reading. Most of the things I read are guidelines, policies, procedures or official-type documents.
As a kid, I was a veteran of the Summer Reading Club here in RehabLand. I have many fond memories of going to my local library, doing the program and getting my name put up on the wall with those of the other kids in my school in the children's section. I loved getting the certificate of completion and the FREE book. Although I loved to read, my free book was always a Peanuts paperback book. It was something they didn't loan out much in the library, and it was my reward for finishing. Snoopy was the subject of my first book.
Thankfully, I don't have to worry anymore about losing my summer reading club book list. Our new library has a reading club online and they give prizes to adults, too! It may not be Snoopy books, but it's fun.
Here's what I've read or am reading right now. Hope you'll enjoy them, or head on over to your local library and find one of your own.
1.Thoughts are things: Turning your ideas into realities by Bob Proctor & Greg S. Reid. I enjoyed this book about ideas and using them in life.Based on the ideas of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.
2. Small Batch: Pickles, cheese, chocolate, spirits and the return of artisanal foods, by Suzanne Cope. If you love food and love stories, you'll like this book, which talks about history, food and the new companies that have grown up doing what our ancestors did all the time.
3. Simple Lessons for a Better Life by Charles E. Dodgen. I'm still reading this, and I'm loving it. A couple of stories hit home for me, and really look a lot like what has happened occasionally at the Hotel. If you want a different view of nursing homes and older people from a the perspective of a psychologist., this is it.
Showing posts with label nursing home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nursing home. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
When you're the unforgettable one
I have heard a lot of stories about unforgettable patients. I've even told a few of my own. Today, I'm reminded of how I was one of those unforgettable people.
Dr. L. was my mother's doctor. For a time, he was the family doctor of many of the folks within 30 miles of our home. Doc L. was an old school doctor. He did everything--house calls, delivering babies, you name it. He was in World War II and told my husband about a condition called jeepitis, or Jeep disease. It had a real name, though, by the time Dahey got it in the military.
Dr. L. was also my grandparents doctor. They loved him.
How did I get to be unforgettable, you ask? My mother was his patient. We were at a family gathering after Dahey and I got married when we saw him again (Dr. L. eventually married into the family after he was widowed).
Dr. L. pulled us aside and said, "You know, I've never told you this, RehabRN, but I'll never forget your mother. I will never forget the day I had to tell her she had cancer. All the thoughts going through my head and thinking about your dad and you kids. I have to say that in all my years of practice, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do."
"But I'm here right now, and I look at all of you, and everything that has happened, and I see that you all turned out alright. That everything turned out for the best. And I am happy I am here to see it."
Today, we said goodbye to Dr. L. Family and friends gathered at the chapel of the local nursing home run by the good sisters. The sister who ran the nursing home told us Dr. L. was a lot of fun to work with. He also was the sisters' doctor for many years, coming to see them on his day off.
It was his wish to have the sisters send him off from their place, since he spent time there and enjoyed their chapel. He was then buried at the local cemetery with military honors, on a beautiful, windswept hill, near a wood.
The rain that was predicted never came, but the sunny skies made us all give thanks for the light he was in all of our lives.
Godspeed Dr. L. I certainly won't forget you, either.
Dr. L. was my mother's doctor. For a time, he was the family doctor of many of the folks within 30 miles of our home. Doc L. was an old school doctor. He did everything--house calls, delivering babies, you name it. He was in World War II and told my husband about a condition called jeepitis, or Jeep disease. It had a real name, though, by the time Dahey got it in the military.
Dr. L. was also my grandparents doctor. They loved him.
How did I get to be unforgettable, you ask? My mother was his patient. We were at a family gathering after Dahey and I got married when we saw him again (Dr. L. eventually married into the family after he was widowed).
Dr. L. pulled us aside and said, "You know, I've never told you this, RehabRN, but I'll never forget your mother. I will never forget the day I had to tell her she had cancer. All the thoughts going through my head and thinking about your dad and you kids. I have to say that in all my years of practice, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do."
"But I'm here right now, and I look at all of you, and everything that has happened, and I see that you all turned out alright. That everything turned out for the best. And I am happy I am here to see it."
Today, we said goodbye to Dr. L. Family and friends gathered at the chapel of the local nursing home run by the good sisters. The sister who ran the nursing home told us Dr. L. was a lot of fun to work with. He also was the sisters' doctor for many years, coming to see them on his day off.
It was his wish to have the sisters send him off from their place, since he spent time there and enjoyed their chapel. He was then buried at the local cemetery with military honors, on a beautiful, windswept hill, near a wood.
The rain that was predicted never came, but the sunny skies made us all give thanks for the light he was in all of our lives.
Godspeed Dr. L. I certainly won't forget you, either.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
The lost shall (again) be found
One of the characters came back today. Sometimes his memory's not so good, but he knows he's been here before.
Just turns out the nursing home sent him with a new driver who was clueless. The driver tried to take him to Washington instead of to us at the Hotel. Once he got on campus, he tried to take Mr. T to the wrong building.
The driver gets out and asks about the clinic. Yes, I tell him, he's ours. Bring him in. Dopey driver brings him in, then I take him where he needs to go.
Mr. T. looks much different than the last time I saw him. He was on his own, drinking heavily (since some of his "nice" caregivers made sure to buy his booze), but now, he's sober. He's old, but he tells me, I know this place.
He was right. And when he got done from his appointment, I saw him in the building looking all pleased. The driver from the nursing home fell asleep waiting for him to be done with his appointment. He snored so loudly, he was providing entertainment for the passersby.
Good thing the sleep lab is in another building, or they would have stopped him to discuss his snoring.
Never a dull moment!
More later...
Just turns out the nursing home sent him with a new driver who was clueless. The driver tried to take him to Washington instead of to us at the Hotel. Once he got on campus, he tried to take Mr. T to the wrong building.
The driver gets out and asks about the clinic. Yes, I tell him, he's ours. Bring him in. Dopey driver brings him in, then I take him where he needs to go.
Mr. T. looks much different than the last time I saw him. He was on his own, drinking heavily (since some of his "nice" caregivers made sure to buy his booze), but now, he's sober. He's old, but he tells me, I know this place.
He was right. And when he got done from his appointment, I saw him in the building looking all pleased. The driver from the nursing home fell asleep waiting for him to be done with his appointment. He snored so loudly, he was providing entertainment for the passersby.
Good thing the sleep lab is in another building, or they would have stopped him to discuss his snoring.
Never a dull moment!
More later...
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