I’d always wanted to dye my hair red, but had been too afraid of doing it until I began my nursing home career. Seeing residents at the end of their lives and young people suddenly disabled, their lives changed forever, caused me to question my cautious approach to even minor decisions. With a few gray … Read more
As a psychologist, I must fall in love with all of my patients in order to work with them. This morning, I had my initial interview with a 90-year old woman who was referred due to depression. I asked my typical psychological assessment questions (“Can you tell me what day it is? Have you … Read more
After working in nursing homes for so long, I sometimes wonder what I’d be like if I had dementia. It seems to me that for a lot of people with dementia, while many details of their personality are lost, what remains is the underlying emotional tone. Of course, most of the people I’m meeting are … Read more
This week I had the chance to meet with a lovely 97-year old lady whom I admire greatly. Despite her dementia, she can be eloquent and is interested in the world around her. She’s always well-dressed, thanks to her aides and to her family, who provide her with fashionable clothing they wash themselves. She’s often … Read more