LymeNet Flash: I'm working!!!!! Some humorous observations

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Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

Hi everybody.

I missed you all so very much.

Well while Lymenet was away, I went to work on a PRN basis at a Nursing Home.

Actually at 3 Nursing homes.

I worked 17 hours last week.

I'll put in 33 this week. [Eek!]

Not bad considering I only wanted to do 10.

I am tired....but making it through.

I found out that I fit right in with the elderly.

I have as many aches and pains as they do,

Take more pills than most of them,

Get easily confused,

Have speech and swallowing issues occasionally,

Lose my shoes, pants, shirts every once in a while,

Want to stay in bed all day long.

I can only Thank God that I am not incontinent. [Big Grin]

I walked down the hall yesterday in a home to find a patient walking

Without her shirt on. They don't usually wear bras.

Another contraption to confuse you for sure! [dizzy]

I realized that she was My patient.

I had to get her to her room, find a shirt.

Then find a shoe which was missing.

After much searching the missing shoe was found

Along with two shirts in the trashcan.

Good place for keeping them. That way they can't get away from you. [Smile]

I see Lyme as a probability in so many people here.

I have a patient with strokes, Lupus, RA, and platlet issues.

Hmmmmmmmm.

Oh yes we grew up in Missouri. [shake]

So many interesting lives.....so much history.

So little appreciation for who they were and the information they have.

I fit right in.

I get their struggle in a way I never could before.

While I may smile or get a chuckle from seeing someone

Wearing a neck pillow on their head like Mickey Mouse ears',

I can't help but make the connection that I know exactly how they feel.

Of course my initiation back included taking two patients to the rest room.

They need help out of their wheel chairs, on to the toilets,

Wiping and then pulling up pants and getting back into the wheel chairs.

Always fun. Gloves are a very hot commodity there.

I had a run in with scabies already ,

A patient with a vancomyacin resistent infection in his catheter,

And a lovely old lady who holds a baby doll all day long.

She gently humms to this baby doll who she holds up and kisses over and over.

I think I've decided that if I ever end up in a facility like this,

I want to be the lady without clothes on running down the halls,

Or the lady with the baby doll who holds and kisses it all day long.

Sent in my application to the School Board.

Will hopefully hear something in a couple of weeks.

Wishing you all wellness and love. [group hug]

Hugs,

Geneal (Soon to be the Geriatric Streaker!) [Big Grin]

Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :

Very interesting story...

Do they have any more job openings there ???

We can car pool.

[Big Grin]

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

Unfortunately they always have job openings there.

I'd love some company to ride with, but before I go to work,

I still go to my children's school (7:00am) to open car doors.

I am so tired I can hardly talk.

Good news is that during the day, my speech is normal.

Very important for the Speech Therapist.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

I'm glad you fit right in, Geneal! Reminds me of the days when my mom was in a nursing home. You learn things... some good, some not so good.

Sure puts things in perspective for you.

Thanks for the chuckles. [Cool]

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

There are bad things.

For me I think the worst thing is that you forget how much

These people have lived through.

The stories they can tell.

One lady I work with came from Cuba 40 years ago.

Interesting story there.

Another was a depression baby.

Talked about how much a quarter meant to them.

What they could do with it.

Amazing.

Old wedding pictures.

Lost children, husbands, brothers to war, accidents, etc.

They've survived so much....

But not the devestation to their minds and bodies.

Just think we don't respect the elderly too much in our society.

At least not down here in the South.

I realize that it is impossible to take care of many elderly

In the home due to dementia/illness/nursing care.

I also find the humor and irony in life.

Such as an 80 year old mother caring for their 60 year old daughter.

Not something that one could picture happening in their life.

Like many who are there who can still think clearly,

We who struggle with Lyme and other issues,

Have so much in common.

I still wish you could have seen my face when I looked

At the lady with the "Mickey Mouse" neck pillow ears. [Big Grin]

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :

Thanks for that Geneal,

So true about all of the history,information, and so little appreciation for it all. Well these folks were sent a little Angel in you.

Hope that you continue to hold up and that your entertainment stays in the PG range [Smile]

Feelfit

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

I hope so too.

However, at ages 85+, even completely without clothes,

It is in the PG range.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :

Geneal, you rock. And I am so glad that you are back to work. Does this mean babesia is under control, with all the treatment you have done? [Smile]

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

geneal, i'm still laughing so hard from reading about you being a "FUTURE GERIATRIC STREAKER"~~~

hilarious; and the lady holding her doll and kissing it all day.

i take magazines and reading material to a lady at nursing home i've been going to for 13 years. she finds any good looking man, and plants kisses on the photo all day/night long!

she must be 80-85 lbs. and her back is twisted like a pretzel.

glad you are adapting and being adopted well there! best wishes and come back as time permits when you aren't sleeping.

thanks for your stories. they've seen it all. love you my younger sister.

bettyg [group hug]

Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :

What a cool story. Don't work too many hours. When you put them on the toilet be sure you use your legs and not your back, or you could be their roomie soon. lol

I'm wishing you strength. Grunts!!!!

Pam

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

I wish my babesia was an over and done thing.

Still struggling with it.

POTs is worse. Go figure.

I know that taking my mind off of my issues

And focusing on someone else's helps.

I don't notice my air hunger as much,

I have less time to focus on pain/inabilities.

It is wonderful!

I am awaiting my first pay day (this Friday).

I used to make a lot of money prior to children.

Then I didn't.

Then I did.

Then I didn't.

It is all relative I suppose.

Still a sense of accomplishment fills me with courage to keep going.

Hoping to ride out any bad days.

The one down fall is being surrounded by beds.

I would like to take a nap in some of them.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :

Good job, Geneal! And you've got a great sense of humor too - ready to take a nap in one of the beds - you could probably orchestrate that -

I know what you mean about taking one's mind off oneself and tending to others. Only thing is I have to watch my body at the same time too so I don't throw it out in some direction.

[ 01-27-2009, 08:20 PM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]

Posted by carly (Member # 14810) on :

I think I'd like to be the lady with the neck pillow on my head [Wink]

Have fun!

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures.

Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :

IF you see a OLD 158 year old,,, REAL OLD dude barely crawling along,,,dats me!!cuz IB --just don--

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

[lol]

geneal, i hear you about seeing all those INVITING beds to snoze on.

gosh don, you said you moved; now we know where to find you! lol [Smile]

Posted by Larkspur (Member # 5131) on :

Hey Geneal - As an SLP who used to work in nursing homes - I couldn't imagine going back. The scabies and MRSA alone are enough that I wouldn't want to go past the front door!

I have always loved working with that population and always felt that they had a lot to teach us.

I'm so happy for you that you are well enough to go back!
[woohoo]

Posted by aklnwlf (Member # 5960) on :

Hi Geneal!

Congrats on going back to work. That's a dream of mine too.

Loved reading about your position and your daily encounters.

I used to work for a time at an adult day center in Alaska and it was one of the best jobs I had.

Very rewarding in ways unlooked for and heart wrenching in others.

I learned alot about life there.

And...um....no practicing for when you have a status change from employee to resident.

In other words...KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON!!!!

[lol]

Posted by She R Lock (Member # 18823) on :

LOL!!! Brings back memories.. I worked for years in nursing homes.. Tough job but very rewarding.
Take care and good luck!