Guest guest Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Hi, Gerry, >Just had a thought, if you don't know any children who could visit, perhaps the staff would be willing to start a program where they could bring their children in for a visit. Everyone loves to show off their kids. > My mother loves children, and is always happy when my grandkids come with me to see her. There are several aides at her NH whose children come in daily after school because a swing shift aide watches them during the day and shen she comes to work they go home with one of the day aides who watches them in the evening. Mom is convinced that these children are there to be babysat and that she is one of the babysitters. This has caused her much consternation because she knows she can't keep up with them in her wheelchair. She calls me regularly to worry about how upset " they " will be when she refuses to babysit, or to tell me in a rather angry tone that she is not going to be forced to take care of these children. I am amazed daily by the " plots " Mom finds in the goings on at the nursing home... She has asked me to bring her a radio that will play tapes, and I found the one she asked for. I'm not sure where we'll keep tapes or how this will go over with her roommate, but Mom has always loved to listen to music and I plan to indulge her. It's been great reading about your loved ones and your memories of music with them. jacqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Gerry, you have a good idea, but I will say this, I am a little concerned about young people bringing in all their illnesses. Sometimes they don't know they are sick, until they have infected many people around them. A group singing, is one thing, but if individuals visit, they will be hugged and loved on by the elderly, who will catch bugs that they don't need in their poor health. Please someone with experience in this area tell us about it. Imogene In a message dated 6/22/2006 8:14:45 AM Central Daylight Time, gdev8@... writes: - When I was a child, my Brownie Troop went to the local nursing home and sang songs for the patients. Also, when I was a student nurse, I took my children to visit the residents where I was doing my gerriatric training. It is amazing how the very elderly come out of their fog and light up. Just had a thought, if you don't know any children who could visit, perhaps the staff would be willing to start a program where they could bring their children in for a visit. Everyone loves to show off their kids. Gerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Well, I'll be! I didn't think of that. Good thought, . Imogene In a message dated 6/22/2006 8:55:56 AM Central Daylight Time, octoryrose@... writes: Maybe our LOs know better than we do - considering most of them hallucinate children & animals!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 All right, . I am convinced. Mingling is more important than trying to avoid germs, because it give so much. I gave birth to six children, and have always loved children. I never pass one in a store without talking a minute. Noticing them, and commending them for being so good, makes them want to be good. Imogene In a message dated 6/22/2006 9:20:48 PM Central Daylight Time, stim@... writes: Hi , My mother's nh is adjacent to a daycare. The children come in to visit regularly, sing songs and do actions. They are so young that a nh setting doesn't seem to bother them. My mother used to prefer being ushered into the hallway after their program to witness 2 and 3 year olds getting dressed for winter weather. That was sweet. There is a gate joining the 2 properties, with benches on the daycare side, so when she was more alert we would go through on a nice summers day and sit with the children as they played outside. We can watch them playing from within the nh but by going out she could also hear them, they would approach and interact. Mom used to teach and then was a principal at schools for special needs children. As affected as she was with her LBD, about 2 years ago she referred to one of the little girls as likely being special needs. I agreed, wasn't sure. On checking with a nurse whose daughter was in that class, Mom was right! I was blown away. Also, the school where I work is within walking distance of a seniors' independent living facility. We often send small groups of children down weekly to play games, interact with them. My children went to a school which teamed a students choir with a seniors choir. We " partnered " each student with a senior, sometimes needing to double, 2 to 1, and they met for social outings and sent letters back and forth. Some seniors in that setting became surrogate grandparents and were included in family events where the need was identified. As well, we brought seniors into the school to read with students. There are so many ways seniors and children can be integrated meaningfully for both. Thank you for bringing this topic up, and for the memories. , Oakville Ont. Mom 92, 12 1/2 years " Parkinsons " 3 1/2 years ago LBD diagnosis, evident much longer in hindsight. Encouraged to give up her licence 6 years ago. Currently immobile, in tilt wheelchair, spoonfed pureed food. Spends most of days behind closed eyes. Eltroxin, Tylenol 1g 3 times a day, Mobicox twice a day Off Aricept since Feb./06 --- In LBDcaregivers , " Gerry Deverell " wrote: > > - > When I was a child, my Brownie Troop went to the local nursing home and sang songs for the patients. Also, when I was a student nurse, I took my children to visit the residents where I was doing my gerriatric training. It is amazing how the very elderly come out of their fog and light up. > Just had a thought, if you don't know any children who could visit, perhaps the staff would be willing to start a program where they could bring their children in for a visit. Everyone loves to show off their kids. > Gerry > Re: Gwen / singing > > > I'm a firm believer of all three... I remembered your post the other > day about this subject and I was trying to think of what kiddies I > can recruit for a visit to the NH... They do have dogs that visit the > NH which is good - but would love to see more of it... That's part of > that Eden Alternative approach I mentioned before... (and part of my > links section) And to go along with the other book I suggested (part > of my book suggestion database) I created a " moment of joy " for my > mother last night with music... :) > > > > > > Thinking back, the three therapies that helped my Dad the most even > during the darkest times was music, children, and dogs. > > Gerry > > Daughter and caregiver of Dick Deverell who passed away on 9/11/05 > after more than a 4 yr. battle with LBD. > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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