I think I’ve mentioned here before that I intended to spend my extra hour or so a week with members of the Alzheimer’s ward. Well, I made it up there for the first time Monday. It’s an interesting place. Every exit is secure. Even the nurses’ station has gates on it to keep the residents out. Compared to most of the nursing units, the Alzheimer’s unit is pretty nice, but if you consider the fact that these residents are never allowed to leave, the little extra sunshine and decorations seem kind of feeble.
As I mentioned, I successfully made time to get up there last Monday and asked the nurses if anyone might want to go out for a walk or downstairs for lunch in the normal cafeteria. They informed me that there was one gentleman who was about to have lunch but loved going outside so much that he’d probably rather have lunch later. It turns out that she was right. So, he and I took a spin into the sunshiny and brisk day. We were both enjoying ourselves, but it wasn’t long before I was chilled and he was freezing so we returned to the buildings to warm up and get my coat for him.
We ventured out once again the 15 minuets I had left before I need to be in crafts. This time we ventured out a back door. There turned out to be a small step to bus he insisted we should try it. We navigated that and as I turned around I saw three more full sized steps in from of us. Let’s just say that I found out wheel chairs work relatively well on steep grassy slopes… just take it backward.
Join us next time for more Adventures in Arts and Alzheimer’s.
I’m sure the residents you meet in the Alzheimer’s Unit are very glad when you spend time with them. I doubt that many volunteers ever head up there, and a good percentage of the living relatives are the same way. Nursing homes can be very stressful places for people who are unprepared to enter. Alzheimer’s Units can be especially bad, but it would appear that you are handling it very well.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that it’s getting cold out. Residents in nursing homes don’t get out very often, especially when there is a lack of volunteers. Cold and dreary weather doesn’t really make nursing homes any happier, and it generates feelings of isolation and loneliness. I guess that is what volunteers are for, though. Let’s just hope that the nice weather can hold out for a bit longer. I’m not missing the snow that much anyway. Best of luck in your further adventures!