“Hi, Mabel! Do you have some time to talk to me?” Mabel, I knew, had all the time in the world, since she refused to go to activities. She sat across from the nursing station, her hefty frame filling her extra-large wheelchair, watching the nursing staff, the other residents and the passersby. Her greeting hadn’t … Read more
I settled down to talk to Pearl, eager to hear how she was faring in her new room. Her voice was strained. “Well, she’s not rummaging through my closet, like Beatrice did. But she told me everybody likes me better than her.” “It makes you uncomfortable.” “Yes! And she won’t talk to me.” We debated … Read more
When I arrived at Mr. Johnson’s room, he was sitting in the doorway in his wheelchair, frowning at the passersby. He was immaculately dressed as usual, in a button-down shirt and shorts on this hot summer day, looking much younger than his 90 years. Lately he’d been frustrated that his memory was interfering with his … Read more
Margaret was a plump 54-year old woman who was skeptical about psychological services when I first approached her. Three sessions later she sat quietly on the edge of her bed, staring down at her legs, her feet not quite touching the floor. “I can’t walk. Every time I try to stand up in physical therapy, … Read more
“I need you to see Eddie,” the social worker told me. “He keeps throwing himself out of bed and you know how the administration is about falls.” Falls were bad. They get reported to the State. “You hear that moaning down the hall?” she asked. “That’s him. He’s driving all the other residents crazy.” She … Read more
There’s a hidden world inside each nursing home. Each center is filled with people striving to live their best lives despite age and disability. Family visitors arrive when they can to offer care and companionship. Staff members devote themselves to this work largely because of their genuine fondness for the residents. If people would like … Read more
I’m Worried About the Emotional Impact on the Staff Mr. Davis used to sit in the lobby and greet staff members when they walked in the door of the nursing care center. His wife had friendly chats with other residents when she came to visit; his children brought plates of homemade cookies to the nursing … Read more