Chili and seniors

[DD]

Another installment in "a day in the life" of DD.

For some time, I've been "marketing" to a group of seniors at some retirement apartments around the corner from our nursing home. Hail, those folks are gonna need me sooner or later. I usually have an ice cream social with them once a month. Last month, the social was at 4pm. I told them I was sorry to ruin their dinner. They said.."this IS our dinner." It really never occured to me that they aren't served meals there, so I volunteered my facility to cook and serve them a chili supper tonight and Wednesday night since there are so many of them. My dietary manager was just so thrilled to hear of our plans. :roll:But, he came through for me like he always does when I cook up some cockamamy scheme--and believe me, there have been many.
So, fast forward to this afternoon. Bill's been cooking all day and is anxious to get this show on the road..literally. Sunkist volunteered to help serve and picked me up at the facility while Bill loaded up is truck with chili, salad, garlic bread, brownies and all the fixin's. Mind you, it's 29 freakin' degrees here! I have to pick up cups so I tell him and Curtis, the business office manager, I'll meet them there. The grocery store was a flippin' nightmare! The man in front of me wrote a check...who writes checks anymore?? Oh wait...I think Kitty does. Well, the cashier couldn't get the check to go through that little machine thingy...whole other story....20 MINUTES later, I have the cups.
We get the spread ready...all the seniors are there...like vultures. God luv 'em.
They ate, and ate, and came back for more. They took leftovers, stuffed brownies in their pockets and salad dressing packets in their other pockets!
They were so cute--and so appreciative. I may b!tch and complain about my job sometimes, but tonight it was very funn and rewarding. And, I get to do it again Wednesday!

 

[Beach Runner]

My guess is that most people on this message board don't know the difference between a retirement community, assisted living, nursing home, etc. I didn't until Mom went through this stuff.

It was very sweet of you to have the chili party. But my guess is that some CNA's had to clean up some poopy pants after those people ate chili.
What's really sad is that people in these homes are neglected by their families. I hate to walk by an apartment with a Christmas wreath on the door when it's July. So I've started anonymously donating wreaths for doors.

No way I'll clean poopy pants, but at least I stop to talk to those who are abandoned by their families. It's really a commitment to drive three hours to visit Mom when she can't even carry on a conversation, and we sit there in silence. We take her to dinner, and minutes after we leave, she doesn't remember that we were there. So I understand why people don't visit. But I keep visiting because I love her, and I hope someday if I get like that, someone will care enough about me not to abandon me, as so many in her "home" have been.

So thanks, DD, for what you do for the abandoned people. Even if the chili causes problems.

 

[DD]

Awwww..BR. I hear ya. I know your mom DOES know you're there, even if she can't express it.
But, those retirement folks don't have CNA's. They're on their own.

 

[scooterbug44]

It's very sad to see how few visitors people get in nursing homes/assisted living etc. even when their family is nearby. We had someone visiting every single day and it was so depressing to see how excited, then disappointed other people would be when the elevator doors opened or when we left to take Grandpa somewhere. The staff would even let our calm dog visit the other residents because they didn't get visitors and couldn't have pets there (the hyper dog and the cat were only allowed to visit Grandpa).

Grandma felt so sorry for all the other residents that she did a special Christmas dinner for everyone so they had a festive holiday too - table linens, centerpieces w/ lights and stuffed birds that chirped when you squeezed them (the biggest hit), and a special menu worked out with the kitchen.

 

[Miss Kitty]

...DD, you're the best! I loved this story!

BR...I think your glass is half full. ;-) Poopy pants.

 

[Matt J]

My guess is that most people on this message board don't know the difference between a retirement community, assisted living, nursing home, etc. I didn't until Mom went through this stuff.

It was very sweet of you to have the chili party. But my guess is that some CNA's had to clean up some poopy pants after those people ate chili.
What's really sad is that people in these homes are neglected by their families. I hate to walk by an apartment with a Christmas wreath on the door when it's July. So I've started anonymously donating wreaths for doors.

No way I'll clean poopy pants, but at least I stop to talk to those who are abandoned by their families. It's really a commitment to drive three hours to visit Mom when she can't even carry on a conversation, and we sit there in silence. We take her to dinner, and minutes after we leave, she doesn't remember that we were there. So I understand why people don't visit. But I keep visiting because I love her, and I hope someday if I get like that, someone will care enough about me not to abandon me, as so many in her "home" have been.

So thanks, DD, for what you do for the abandoned people. Even if the chili causes problems.

I remember a nurse in a nursing home explaining to me that my parents had done this for me when I was born and the least I could do is return the favor later in life.

DD, the check thing drives me nuts. Every once in a while I'll write a check. However what drives me absolutely bonkers is when people wait the 5-10 minutes for everything to go across the belt get totaled up and then they start writing out the check like they're signing the Declaration of Independence. I always write the whole thing out and just write in the total when it's given.

Then there are the people who write out the check like it's an engraved wedding invitation. :roll: I don't think most people realize that banks haven't compared signatures on checks in about 20-30 years unless it's really large.

 

[SHELLY]

Bravo to you DD and company!....Simply, Bravo!

.

 

[Beach Runner]

Awwww..BR. I hear ya. I know your mom DOES know you're there, even if she can't express it.
But, those retirement folks don't have CNA's. They're on their own.

I hope she knows.

Even CNA's neglect if they know the family isn't checking in.

It's very sad to see how few visitors people get in nursing homes/assisted living etc. even when their family is nearby. We had someone visiting every single day and it was so depressing to see how excited, then disappointed other people would be when the elevator doors opened or when we left to take Grandpa somewhere. The staff would even let our calm dog visit the other residents because they didn't get visitors and couldn't have pets there (the hyper dog and the cat were only allowed to visit Grandpa).

Grandma felt so sorry for all the other residents that she did a special Christmas dinner for everyone so they had a festive holiday too - table linens, centerpieces w/ lights and stuffed birds that chirped when you squeezed them (the biggest hit), and a special menu worked out with the kitchen.

It is so sad. So sweet of your Grandma!

...DD, you're the best! I loved this story!

BR...I think your glass is half full. ;-) Poopy pants.

You are right.

 

[Cheering472]

DD you are wonderful!

 

[waltonco lover]

Aww...that's so sweet! I printed this story out to give to my mom. She works in geriatrics and always loves to see people helping out with the elderly. We used to sometimes worry about her exhausting herself with all she tried to do for others. You two sound very much alike.

I am sure your excellent deed will live a great smile on their faces.