Please:
- Hang my psychology diplomas on my wall, so I’m reminded of my accomplishments.
- Display family photos, so I feel surrounded by my loved ones.
- If I have Dementia, label my photos so the staff can talk to me about my family and help me to remember.
- Put a quilt or bedspread on my bed from home so my room won’t look so institutional.
- Over my bed, put up the Halloween photo of me dressed as Wonder Woman, to remind everyone of my hip and glamorous past.
- Make sure I have some nice clothes in my closet (and some lipstick on my lips), so I can continue my hip and glamorous life.
I love this! A little bit of hominess goes a long way in a nursing home room.
Hi Barbara,
I agree, it doesn’t take much to transform a room from lonely to homey. A few photos, a quilt, perhaps a plant, and the place says, “I am loved.”
EFB
Yes, if only it were this way for every senior in the world!
Dr. Eleanor,
I love the way you think. I can see your work holds the dignity of our precious elderly in highest regard. I am with you in this crusade. I’m sure you are aware of the Association for Long-Term Care Nursing (AALTCN), but I just wanted to mention it in case you hadn’t. I have published a book myself which emphasizes the dignity of every patient and the good fruit which evolves for the caregivers who choose to see every patient as a treasure. I wanted to acknowledge nurses and give them the credit we so deserve. It shows the caring forces which drive us to continue on in our work. It’s titled: Nurses Are From Heaven: Nursing Through Eyes of Faith by Christina Feist-Heilmeier, RN, MSN. It’s available at Amazon. Best wishes to you.
I hope, Mary, that as a result of this post and readers like you, a few more seniors have their rooms redecorated to reflect their lives.
EFB
Hi Christina,
I’ve learned so much from working with elders in the nursing home. They really are treasures, as you say. Best of luck with your book.
EFB
perfect. absolutely perfect.
jess
Thanks, Jess. Wanna be my roommate?
E
For my room you can add: a computer with a good internet connection. You can keep your T.V.
K —
I posted this before, but it somehow disappeared. I’m with you on the computer access. And it would be nice if the whole facility had wi-fi, so I could hang out on the patio with my laptop and people watch while I surfed the web.
EFB
What a lovely sentiment and hopefully one that might help adult children figure out how to make that room in a nursing home feel comfortable.
Thanks, Lara. It was my intent, after seeing far too many barren rooms, to give some suggestions about how to enliven them.
EFB