This is a little update on Ken's first two weeks in the Care Home
I think I will have to divide this post into two sections - one from Ken's point of view and one from mine.
My view - I feel as though an enormous burden has at last been lifted from my shoulders. I now have no need to worry that he will be physically assaulted by other patients (as he was on the ward). He can now wear a watch and his glasses all day long without fear of them going missing or being broken. He is beautifully dressed every day, is shaved and toileted properly for the first time in 9 months. Every day I visit I am thrilled by the lovely well dressed, clean looking man who is waiting for me.
He is treated with great kindness and respect, as I myself am and other members of the family have been when they visit with me. He is in clean, warm safe surroundings. The whole atmosphere within the home is of one rather large family. The other residents are on the whole kindly souls with their own unique personalities and problems but there are certain periods of the day when they do interact with each other, even if it is for very short periods of time. Ken has been completely accepted by the residents.
The staff are quite honestly the kindest, most hardworking people I have ever come across. Nothing is too much trouble for them. Not once have I come across a group of them sitting and gossiping together and leaving residents to their own devices(sadly I witnessed this happening on the ward every day of the nine months Ken was there). Staff make me welcome, offer me a drink and tell me what kind of morning Ken has had. There is such an air of calmness and a truely family feeling within the home.
I am able to visit Ken at any time of the day unlike the hospital ward with its strict visiting hours. Ken's older brother visited with me today. We took Ken out to a garden centre and then on for a pub meal. We arrived back at the home at 6pm to be met by smiling faces asking had we had a good afternoon.
His bedroom is delightful. It has large airy windows with lovely views. I've put a TV and radio in the bedroom, not for Ken's benefit as he ignores them both but for me, so that we can sit together and have a little cuddle in our own space! He has his own wardrobe and clean clothes are washed and ironed well and carefully hung up. He has drawers which are kept neat and tidy.
When he was on the ward he had a locker for his belongings. He shared the room and all his shoes, slippers clothes became communial property with the man he was sharing with. I think that whilst on the ward Ken got a skin infection because they even shaved the other resident with Ken's own electric razor. Ken's skin is now beginning to clear again now that no one else uses his razor. I had to throw away all of his clothes from the hospital as they had been ruined.
Mealtimes are a lovely experience. Tablecloths and napkins are set, cups and saucers laid and home made food is served. Residents who need help to eat are attended to. One or two residents who for some reason or another want to eat in one of the living rooms are taken a tray with their food. It is their choice.
As Ken has a better appetite than all the other residents, he is always given a second helping!
For me, we have reached a safe harbour at last and I thank God for the peace which this has given to me.
Ken has somewhat settled in. I've told him that it is a convalesence home which the doctor has sent him to so he can have a rest and get better. I think he is as happy as he can be or ever will be but he doesn't want to be there. He's completely forgotten the hospital ward - swears he was never in hospital! He spends his days looking for me. He wanders up and down the corridor waiting for me. The staff try to reassure him that I'm coming. When I arrive he clings to me like a lost child and weeps. He loves me taking him out for a walk or a ride in the car but gets very agitated and unhappy when we come back.
The staff are telling me that he is not causing them any problems, and that the problems he has, are quite normal and well within the range they can cope with.
We are to have a review next month with his consultant. She had warned me that if the staff couldn't cope, then he would have to go back on the ward. This terrified me the first week he went into the home. I was on pins worrying about this. Now after two and a half weeks of his stay, the staff are happy with him and I think that I may now breath a sigh of relief.
All is well in Tina's world at the moment and, at last, I'm beginning to think that my lovely husband is in the right place and getting the care and attention he deserves. I could not single handedly take care of him as well as he is now being cared for. When I visit him I am able to be loving, relaxed and caring towards him, thanks to the wonderful atmosphere that the staff generate. Whatever the future holds for us both, I know, deep down that I will always treasure this oasis of peace and calm which this wonderful place has given me.
xxTinaT
I think I will have to divide this post into two sections - one from Ken's point of view and one from mine.
My view - I feel as though an enormous burden has at last been lifted from my shoulders. I now have no need to worry that he will be physically assaulted by other patients (as he was on the ward). He can now wear a watch and his glasses all day long without fear of them going missing or being broken. He is beautifully dressed every day, is shaved and toileted properly for the first time in 9 months. Every day I visit I am thrilled by the lovely well dressed, clean looking man who is waiting for me.
He is treated with great kindness and respect, as I myself am and other members of the family have been when they visit with me. He is in clean, warm safe surroundings. The whole atmosphere within the home is of one rather large family. The other residents are on the whole kindly souls with their own unique personalities and problems but there are certain periods of the day when they do interact with each other, even if it is for very short periods of time. Ken has been completely accepted by the residents.
The staff are quite honestly the kindest, most hardworking people I have ever come across. Nothing is too much trouble for them. Not once have I come across a group of them sitting and gossiping together and leaving residents to their own devices(sadly I witnessed this happening on the ward every day of the nine months Ken was there). Staff make me welcome, offer me a drink and tell me what kind of morning Ken has had. There is such an air of calmness and a truely family feeling within the home.
I am able to visit Ken at any time of the day unlike the hospital ward with its strict visiting hours. Ken's older brother visited with me today. We took Ken out to a garden centre and then on for a pub meal. We arrived back at the home at 6pm to be met by smiling faces asking had we had a good afternoon.
His bedroom is delightful. It has large airy windows with lovely views. I've put a TV and radio in the bedroom, not for Ken's benefit as he ignores them both but for me, so that we can sit together and have a little cuddle in our own space! He has his own wardrobe and clean clothes are washed and ironed well and carefully hung up. He has drawers which are kept neat and tidy.
When he was on the ward he had a locker for his belongings. He shared the room and all his shoes, slippers clothes became communial property with the man he was sharing with. I think that whilst on the ward Ken got a skin infection because they even shaved the other resident with Ken's own electric razor. Ken's skin is now beginning to clear again now that no one else uses his razor. I had to throw away all of his clothes from the hospital as they had been ruined.
Mealtimes are a lovely experience. Tablecloths and napkins are set, cups and saucers laid and home made food is served. Residents who need help to eat are attended to. One or two residents who for some reason or another want to eat in one of the living rooms are taken a tray with their food. It is their choice.
As Ken has a better appetite than all the other residents, he is always given a second helping!
For me, we have reached a safe harbour at last and I thank God for the peace which this has given to me.
Ken has somewhat settled in. I've told him that it is a convalesence home which the doctor has sent him to so he can have a rest and get better. I think he is as happy as he can be or ever will be but he doesn't want to be there. He's completely forgotten the hospital ward - swears he was never in hospital! He spends his days looking for me. He wanders up and down the corridor waiting for me. The staff try to reassure him that I'm coming. When I arrive he clings to me like a lost child and weeps. He loves me taking him out for a walk or a ride in the car but gets very agitated and unhappy when we come back.
The staff are telling me that he is not causing them any problems, and that the problems he has, are quite normal and well within the range they can cope with.
We are to have a review next month with his consultant. She had warned me that if the staff couldn't cope, then he would have to go back on the ward. This terrified me the first week he went into the home. I was on pins worrying about this. Now after two and a half weeks of his stay, the staff are happy with him and I think that I may now breath a sigh of relief.
All is well in Tina's world at the moment and, at last, I'm beginning to think that my lovely husband is in the right place and getting the care and attention he deserves. I could not single handedly take care of him as well as he is now being cared for. When I visit him I am able to be loving, relaxed and caring towards him, thanks to the wonderful atmosphere that the staff generate. Whatever the future holds for us both, I know, deep down that I will always treasure this oasis of peace and calm which this wonderful place has given me.
xxTinaT