John Kitsco

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Whenever I drive past a nursing home (or as they are more recently known as, care facilities) I cannot help but help think of our Mom and Dad.

Nursing homes are all very different, yet similar. Some seem to totally lack in the caring department, just do the job, get paid - kind of atitude. Others do a basic job. And still others seem to take a little initiate to be special. Ah - special.

Our Mom, for example, ended up in a facility that looked pleasant enough from the outside. Located in a residential area, landscaped nicely. Yet the interior was similar to many hospitals you walk into, elevators, fairly bright and moderately cheerful.
So it begged an answer to the question - why our Mom who would be described as gentle, quiet, intelligent, proud and a joy to be around - would end up being placed on the 3rd floor with a roommate who could not speak, just the occasional outburst of laughter in the middle of the night. Why? Staff perhaps had little knowledge of what a brave and wonderful soul was in their midst.

I can only simultaneously commend and berate these types of places - places that look good, but as they say - looks are not everything, but certainly by no means call them home.

I realize, for some, you have the games room and group events, but others like Mom who would prefer quiet music and intellectual surroundings, instead they are given a room that I would call small and yet shared by another (who could not speak) at a price that can only make management smile. Its not justifiable in my humble opinion and I yet feel the government needs to address the issues of nursing homes and how the caregivers are qualified to work in such places. Definitely needs a review. Fees account for elevator maintenance, janitorial, grounds keeping, some degree of health care, etc. and its the etcetera that worries me. The system desperately needs to put funds aside to care for the abundance of seniors coming on stream (the boomers) just as I write this blog. Seniors need to be able to stay in their own homes as long as possible. We need attendants in nursing homes who not only remember seniors names but remember to bring meals on time and remember to show some interest and respect and need to have more knowledge of the physical and mental condition of its people.
Yes, and to offer some enjoyment - besides the card games and
gossip oriented activities....Yes, nursing homes need to be held accountable. Our parents were there, We may be there one day and will be able to call this home?One nursing home was near a major hotel. Thus,the residents had a chance to observe naked people, people running around with guns, just directly across from the nursing home, and in another case one other nursing home had a casino on one side and a strip club on the other. Do they expect the old gentlemen to hobble over on walkers to throw change at the dancers? What was the city planning department thinking?

Yes, lots of issues, lots to think about as the twilight years sneak in on all of us...

Mostly we want senior facilities to be places where you might make your own cup of tea if you want to, when you want to, have guests that are not afraid to laugh and talk a little loud - yes,
just like HOME.