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Caregiving: Finding Adult Day Care
Before Gladys left Philadelphia, her doctor suggested we enroll her in an Adult Day Care program as soon as possible. When she lived with Nikki, Gladys was in a program and seemed to enjoy it. We found this to be much better than having a caregiver come to the house to stay with Gladys while Nikki was at work.
The caregiver that was coming to the house did an adequate job of watching Gladys and giving her lunch. But we found that most of the day Gladys watched tv while the caregiver talked on the phone. There was no exercise or mental stimulation. So after several months, we decided on an Adult Day Care.
A few months before Gladys arrived, Fred and I called around to different senior centers in our general area to see what services they offered. After talking to several centers, we decided to visit the Cobb Senior Day Center in Marietta. We looked at the grounds, toured the facility and talked to the director. Both of us were pleased.
A week after Gladys arrived, we took her to the facility to see if she would like it, which she did.
Gladys is currently enrolled and attends the center Tuesday through Friday. She really looks forward to getting up in the morning to go to the center. She enjoys the activities and the company.
The center provides socialization, activities, crafts, exercise and field trips. They also provide lunch and an afternoon snack. If you can find a good center, these programs are great for you and your loved one.
The center I chose was based on care for someone with mild dementia and who needs some assistance either via a walker or wheelchair. There are also programs available for seniors who are agile, mobile and self sufficient.
Elder Care: Don’t Rush an Old Lady – YouTube Video
If we live long enough, eventually we will all slow down. It’s not nice to rush our elderly.
Don’t Rush an Old Lady
A Poem on Being Elderly
This is a reprint of a poem I found on another website.
When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was felt that she had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.
One nurse took her copy to Ireland. The old lady’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health
A slide presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this “anonymous” poem winging across the Internet.
An Old Lady’s Poem
What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you’re looking at me?
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply,
when you say in a loud voice, “I do wish you’d try!
Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
and forever is losing a stocking or shoe…..
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
with bathing and feeding, the long day to fill….
Is that what you’re thinking?
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse; you’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
as I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of ten …with a father and mother,
brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
dreaming that soon now a lover she’ll meet.
A bride soon at twenty — my heart gives a leap,
remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
who need me to guide and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
but my man’s beside me to see I don’t mourn.
At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
and I think of the years and the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old woman …and nature is cruel;
‘Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigour depart,
there is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
and now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
and I’m loving and living life over again.
I think of the years ……all too few, gone too fast,
and accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people, open and see,
not a crabby old woman; look closer …see ME!!
