As many of you know my mom had a hip replacement in late February and was in a rehabilitation / nursing home following the surgery for physical and occupational therapy. I can not say enough about Crandall Medical Center in Sebring, Ohio. It is connected to Copeland Oaks where my mom has lived for the past 17 years. They took very good care of her.
It takes a very special person to work in this environment. There are all kinds of nurses and aides and others who work there and each one that I encountered seemed to genuinely care for the patients whether they were long term care residents or rehab residents like my mom.
Spending as much time there as I have over the past 6 weeks allowed me the opportunity to overhear conversations in the hallways quite often. One day a resident who was probably not “with it” cussed a young aide out because she did not want ice in her water. When the aide walked down the hall with tears in her eyes I grabbed her and gave her a hug and told her that it would be okay and that she was doing good work. This past week when I was there for the last time she came into my mom’s room to refill her water. My mom proceeded to introduce me to her and she said “oh we already met—she gave me a hug when I was crying.” You never know, do you?
Various things I overhead while I was there include:
- “Why are you spitting? It’s not lady like to spit!”
- “Virginia –what’s going on? Your teeth are on your chest!”
- “Larry, you are missing a shoe. What will we do? Hold on! Don’t go! Good Lord Larry, I don’t know how you did that!”
- One day we were planting seeds in little cups for an activity. One lady looked at the dirt we were using and asked “is this goat manure?”
- Several times I got “Do you work here?””
One day we were sitting in my mom’s room talking and a lady rolled on in in her wheelchair with a pitcher of water. She insisted on pouring us drinks with her wobbly hands and I had to take over so it would not get spilled all over the place. As she backed out a nurse came in and corralled her and took the pitcher away that she had stolen from the cart the medicines are on. I guess she was practicing hospitality or something.
At a concert we attended the performer was trying to get the residents to come up with who sang the song “Celebrate”. He was giving hints like “It’s something you mix up to drink . You probably made it for your kids or grandkids.” Of course I knew he was trying to get them to say Kool and the Gang. One little lady yelled from the back row “Vodka!” I would imagine there would be social workers visiting THAT house if that was true.
It obviously takes a special person to work in health care and especially in this environment and I am grateful that there are so many who are called to do that job.
The good news is that my mom was released on Saturday and is now living in an assisted living apartment. We got her stuff moved on Thursday. My sister in law and brother and my sweet husband and I worked hard for 2 days getting things all sorted and organized and settled and even though she was a little overwhelmed I think she will settle in and hopefully love it there. We even made sure she had a neat little area to do her crafts.
But I must admit I am exhausted. So for all of you out there who have had similar experiences with your parents I tip my hat to you . It’s what we do when we love our parents. It is a privilege. 
22 Comments
Leave a commentI have been visiting a nursing home for 15 years and you are right the caregivers there are very special. Great picture of you and your Mom. You should repost this at the Senior Salon on Wednesday.
Will do, Bernadette! I always forget to do that so I will put it on my calendar. Thanks so much for reminding me and for being such a faithful reader. It means a lot!
I jumped over from the Senior Salon, so I’m glad you got it on your calendar. This post was too special to miss (loved the title!) Thanks for sharing.
As I inch closer to my senior years I am always relieved to read posts like this one – and those caretakers are indeed angels on earth who well deserve many thank yous for their service – along with those who work in palliative care environments. They are pecial people with HUGE hearts – and eyes to see (and honor) the human beings living in bodies that are no longer young and vital.
A colleague just had a hip replacement, so I know how much your visits meant to your Mom – and how much your support of the staff means to them.
btw – do you go by Beth or Beth Ann?
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
Madelyn–thanks so much for stopping by. I am slow in responding this week–lots going on but I am so glad you were here. Yes—the caretakers like these are amazing and I am blessed my mom is surrounded by so many wonderful folks who really do care about them. I go by Beth Ann but answer to Beth mainly to those who knew me before I got married. When I got married I decided I wanted to use both of my names and since I am just plain Beth and not Beth Ann it worked! And now that i live in the South I fit in with a two name name. 🙂 But I would answer to just about anything and do! Thanks again for stopping by!
My pleasure, Beth Ann. Funny you mention the double names in the south. When I lived in Knoxville I humorously appended “Jane” to my dog’s moniker because Tabitha Jane always made me laugh (when she was 3 months old and before she lightened through the years her coat was exactly the color of a Tabby Cat, thus the name)
There must be something in the drinking water, as they say – this has been a slow response week for me because life decreed much time spent in other endeavors. It happens! And often when it does, the comments scroll so far down the comment notification roll that I miss them entirely, so I never personalize. I’m amazed you find time to respond AT ALL, given what you are dealing with.
xx,
mgh
I was in Knoxville yesterday! Hubby is on a business trip so I am tagging along and in Nashville for the next couple of days. I love Tabitha Jane! Great name! It has been quite a couple of weeks for me but I am getting caught up and today and tomorrow I hope to just chill out and relax a lot. There is some poolside reading in my future today. Have a great one!
Happy the move went well! I can imagine you all are exhausted. You and your mom look fantastic as always:)
Thanks, Jeni! We are happy to be home and hoping she is feeling more settled this morning. It was a great week and lots of great family time even if it was not the normal Easter week for us.
We are so happy she is in a nice apt where there can be more help for her when she needs it. I am hoping she makes the transition quickly!
Virginia, your teeth are on your chest!! I pray that never happens to this Virginia!
My mother is in memory care and I agree with you about the amazing caregivers. I also hear and see the funniest things!
I thought of you when I typed that title! I know your mom has received amazing care but I also know that that is due in a great part to you and your involvement. When family is involved I think the care can be better because there is that relationship made with the staff. Thanks for stopping by!
Your final sentence brought me to tears.
I spent Easter with my mom in the nursing home. I agree with you about the loving and caring staff. They are wonderful at Parkview, where Mom lives.
These are not easy days, to watch our parents in failing health…but I hold dear each day my mom remains on this earth.
I can empathize with your exhaustion. Been there and done that and it’s not only physically, but emotionally, exhausting. There’s a certain bit of grief mixed in with the moving for both the parent and the child.
They are not easy days but honestly I am so glad that I am able to go when I can and do what I can do. Everyone loves my mom even when she gets a little sassy. 🙂 But she has been through a lot and has had a lot of things done for her when she would much rather do things on her own. I get it. But when we want safety to come into play it sometimes means more eyes are better . I will catch up with you later–thanks for the email. Getting ready for my sis and her hubby to come later today so will answer later I promise!
I always loved working with the elderly. I still remember things that were said and done by various residents. Thanks for sharing. Hugs.
It is one of those things that takes a special heart. I have always loved the older folks and know that we can learn a lot from them if we just listen.
I´ve been through this with my mom and it is so draining. But, like you, I felt blessed to be able to do it for her. Is her new place in the same complex? Mom is now in a care home as she is immobile.They look after her so well. The folks that work there are angels and I let them know how much I appreciate them every chance I get. I love the picture of you and your mom. So special. xo
It is draining but such a good feeling to know that she is where she is being cared for however she needs to be while still maintaining as much independence as she can . I agree that they are angels. No doubt about it.
VODKA!
I cracked up!
Love it! It makes me think of my husband’s Great Aunt Bea. She would be the person who would yell out Vodka! My favorite Bea-ism is after she had hip surgery this fall they came in and gave her a new warm blanket. She leaned over to me and told me that the new, warm blanket was almost better than sex. 😉
Your Aunt Bea would be my friend, I know it! Her comment about the blanket is priceless. Thanks for stopping by , Val! Miss you!
Absolutely love these! I have several great ones from my moms years working in a nursing home! We’ll have to have a face-time date so I can share them with you sometime! Glad mom is doing so well and hoping you get a little break!