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No price on caring kindness: Nursing home staffs go extra mile every day |
| Channels » Home » News » No price on caring kindness: Nursing home staffs go extra mile every day |
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March 1, 2004 |
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This article by Marc Crail was reprinted with permission from the March 1, 2004, edition of the Record Courier, Ravennna, Ohio.
I don't think that florists and candy makers have created a holiday to celebrate and recognize the work of nursing home caregivers -- yet. But when they do, I'm going to be the first in line at the Hallmark store to pick out just the right card to say “thanks” to this most deserving group of special people.
My mother has been in a nursing home for over a year now. Her memory is greatly impaired and her once vibrant personality is now virtually absent.
Mom's ability to care for herself is nonexistent. She can no longer do even the most rudimentary tasks for herself like bathing, dressing or even holding a dinner fork. Nowadays, only rarely does she have a glimmer of recognition of her beloved dog, Tootsie, or even her precious grandsons. It has been incredibly sad to watch that steady, relentless progression of deteriorating physical and mental skills.
Throughout this difficult period for all of us who love Mom, one bright spot has helped our family and friends feel a whole lot better about her situation. She has been blessed to be under the expert care of an outstanding group of nursing home caregivers. These nurses, aides, housekeepers, dietitians, cooks, servers and administrators have done whatever is necessary to keep my mom and her fellow residents healthy, happy and safe. But it isn’t easy!
Every patient requires unique care and special handling. During my visits, I always see one kindly lady who is usually gently cudd1ing a baby doll wrapped in a tiny blanket. Another bright-eyed woman never fails to make her way to where my mom and I are sitting. She jabbers unintelligibly, but cheerfully, until she eventually heads off to visit someone else. Some patients can get aggressive at times, and almost all need a great deal of physical assistance, including some pretty heavy lifting. Often they are unable to comply with even simple requests to sit down or take their needed medications.
Although they have difficult and oftentimes thankless jobs, the nursing home staff has always been respectful and loving toward each of their charges.
Whenever I’m there, they seem always to be busy attending to residents, keeping the facility meticulously clean and otherwise working hard to serve their clients in a myriad of ways.
No doubt, most caregivers are underpaid, overworked and certainly under-recognized. This might be even more true for those who ply their trades in nursing homes due to the extreme nature of their patients’ needs. Most patients will not be getting better or returning to their own home, and few can express their appreciation for a job well done.
When it became apparent that my mom needed more and better care, we looked around at various facilities and made choices that we thought would best meet her needs. We had heard stories, as you have, about abuse and shoddy care in nursing homes, but our concerns have proved to be unfounded.
We’re thankful for the kindness, care and expert skills the entire staff has provided for Mom, and I’m sure her nursing home doesn’t have a monopoly on excellence.
There are many fine facilities in our area, and I’d like to thank all of those who dedicate their professional lives to meeting the needs of patients and exceeding the expectations of grateful family members. Your efforts are appreciated, and until there is a more formal way to acknowledge your contributions -- THANKS!
Editor’s note: Crail is superintendent of the Kent City Schools.
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