A Thanksgiving Story
November 13th, 2008
Last Sunday my sister, brother-in-law and I ate an early Thanksgiving dinner with our dad at the home where he lives. The home does this for all the holidays. They will do it a week or two before the actual holiday so that it’s easier on family (especially those who live out of town) to come and celebrate.
All of the food is homemade and the staff waits on you like you were in a fine restaurant. Kitty, the director of the home, is a really nice woman who is all about taking care of the residents. She involves the residents in craft projects like making Thanksgiving day cards that they mail out to family inviting them to dinner.
After dinner I was talking to Kitty and she shared with me that she had to fire someone over their treatment of my father. This employee was someone she trusted but she found out from other employees that this man took my dad to a small bathroom near the kitchen. The light switch for this bathroom is on the outside and while dad was inside, he stood outside the closed door and flicked the light off and on several times.
When she confronted the man he tried to say it was a harmless joke. She said it would be a cruel thing to do any elderly person but especially so to someone with dementia. When he said he was just trying to have some fun, she responded “You can see how funny it is when you go home and tell your wife you no longer have a job.”
“You aren’t going to give me a warning first?” he protested.
“Sure, I’ll give you a warning. Don’t let me run into you on the outside!”
Developing a sense of appreciation for the good things in your life goes a long way to helping beat the blues. This Thanksgiving I am very thankful for Kitty and the wonderful home she runs for my dad and the other residents. It makes me and my family feel so good to know our father is in good hands.
November 13th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Wow, I am so sorry that happened to your Dad, and thank you Kitty!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I’m sorry too, Lelah. It’s hard to understand people’s actions - especially towards those that can’t take care of themselves. I’m just glad Kitty’s #1 priority is the residents.
Kitty pays her employees well, much more than the other homes in town because she wants good, caring employees to look after the residents - but the flip side is she expects a lot out of them.
Kitty’s home is run the way all nursing homes should be run - with compassion.
November 14th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Wow! I really like this Kitty lady
I know it really comforts you and your family to know that someone like Kitty is taking care of your daddy and all the others in her nursing home.
by the way, I love your posts and appreciate your sharing.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I like Kitty too, Jac and I’m glad you love my posts! Thanks for reading and for your comments.
November 17th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I found your site via this zen site I was reading for motivation and inspiration, and I have to say… you are a Godsend. I have been struggling with depression for two years, with meds, without, with a counselor and now …sort of…without because I moved. And now it’s been tough finding work - and…sleeping and…. and so reading through your blog is wonderful. I have a “light lamp” - a full spectrum light I inherited from my grandmother after she died. I never used it, until I read your site. And I went for a walk today with both my black dogs, the real and the emotional. You give me hope. Not to conquer or cure, but to live with and to live well. I think looking back I have struggled with depression for a long time. So, now my hope is to live, to walk the black dog, and to live well/walk well. Thank you… I probably won’t comment much, but I am slowly working through your posts and just so appreciative. I’ve checked out the TLC site and am going to start DOING…
So…again… thank you! I am so happy you just exist and share what you are doing/have been through!!
November 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Lynne,
I’m so glad you found my site and find it helpful. Please feel free to comment as much as you like. I think it’s important to get others’ perspective. Depression is lonely enough - when you can read what someone else has gone through and what’s worked for them, it can help us with our own black dog.
Good luck with your black dog!