Archive for May, 2011
Posted on May 31, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES – WORKING TOGETHER, GETTING ALONG, HELPING EACH OTHER – WE CAN LEARN IT ALL FROM GEESE
GEESE FLY IN A V SHAPED FORMATION
The lead goose takes the brunt of the wind and the flapping of all their wings creates an updraft that helps all the other birds in the formation. When a goose leaves the formation they quickly try to get back into formation because they experience a drag and it is harder to fly without the others.
GEESE TAKE TURNS BEING IN THE LEAD
The lead goose, when they get tired will move to another place in the formation, letting another goose take the lead.
GEESE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AND TAKE CARE OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED
Geese in the formation honk to encourage those in the lead. And when a goose becomes too weak to keep up – two other geese leave the formation with that goose. These two will stay with that goose until it can rejoin the formation or they join another formation. If needed, the two geese will even attempt to revive the fallen goose.
What if people acted the same way? What if instead of everyone wanting to be the leader, everyone took turns leading? What if everyone was interested in supporting each other instead of number one?
What if everyone learned a way to show their support and encourage others? Especially those who have been hurt, have lost it all and need some helping hands
I guess it take a disaster to get the best out of people and make them act like – the geese.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 29, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
MEMORIAL DAY – A FAMILY DAY TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO SERVED
What I remember most was that they (my family’s military men) never talked about it, the war, their war. My great-uncle Ray had served in WWI, I wish I knew today where he served and what he saw. But he never spoke of it, not to me not to anyone to my knowledge. My Great-grandmother, grandmother or mother would certainly have repeated what he said, but nothing.
Then my uncle Harvey served in WWII, and came back in one piece. There was that dent in the metal cover of the bible he carried next to his heart, that he never explained. But he like Uncle Ray, had nothing to say, and he was the consummate talker.
When he returned he became a car salesman and was known to always drive the latest Buick, convertible of course. He was a good looking, cigar smoking, and fun loving talker. But not about that, his war. I wonder if he just wanted to forget it and get his life back. Uncle Harvey went on to marry the widow of a service man with a very small daughter, and raised her as his own.
Uncle Harvey’s picture in his uniform is on the cover of my book. My mother is sitting in front of the piano her parents had given her, it is early 1943 and her brother is away in the war. And so, his picture is on the piano and there is a star in their front window.
Everyone knew these uncles had served but they never claimed a bigger share of the American dream. They never held forth in political conversation as though their opinion was any more valuable than anyone else’s, because they had served. They never got those uniforms out again, never marched in parades and most of all never talked about it.
Like so many others just like them, all they wanted was just to fit in and pick up their lives where they had left them. Those lives they had thought about when they were so many miles away doing what their country had asked them to do.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 25, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
AGEISM – DEATH BY INVISIBILITY
Some how we never think we will get “there,” old age. (where ever “there” is) Old age is relative to how old you are presently. When the Beatles belted out “Will you still need me? Will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” It was 1967 and sixty-four seemed a long way off to me, and yes seemed old. Not so much now.
To the early teen 16 seems old because you can drive. In your late teens the number is 21, because then you are old enough to drink. When I got married my brother-in-law was 30 which seemed ancient to me then. When I reached the other side of thirty, it appeared quite youthful.
The word “ageism” was coined in 1968 by Robert Butler. He said “Ageism allows the younger generations to see older people as different as themselves; thus they subtly cease to identify with their elders as human beings.”
How do the younger generations become so disconnected to the elderly? One way is through placement in a nursing home. When the elderly are taken out of the general society and grouped together in a facility they start to lose their individuality.
One day I was visiting my mother in a nursing facility and as her nurse was encouraging mom to take her medication. Mom looked up at the nurse and said “Sometimes I feel invisible.” There it was, no one prompted her. I certainly didn’t know that was coming. But she had the nurse’s attention for the briefest of moments and she told her how she felt. (those four words were the foundation for what would become my book: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance)
It’s over 40 years ago that Robert Butler coined the word ageism, and gave us his definition. But the definition seems even truer today than in 1968. There now seems to be an even greater disconnect between the generations. Maybe because so many families have had to relocate for financial reasons and moved away from the folks. Maybe it’s because we have become so busy, just trying to stay current and keep our heads above water. In 1968 two income families weren’t as common place as they are today.
Death by invisibility? What ever the reason, this is an “ism” that is someday going to affect us all. As the saying goes,” old age isn’t so bad when you think of the alternative.”
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 24, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
WHAT A PRIVILEDGE TO WORK IN HEALTHCARE AND TAKE CARE OF THE GREATEST GENERATION
It was a memorable event at the Nursing Home. The Boy Scouts came in carrying the flag, and all the elders able to stand, pulled themselves to their feet. The elderly men assembled who had “served” saluted, and everyone said the pledge. The high point of the event was when the elderly residents of the Nursing Home each told their story of the war. One elderly man had received a medal from President Reagan for his contribution in the landing depicted in “Saving Private Ryan.” Having a picture of himself with the president helped those scouts to really see what this man had done.
This is a wonderful time to work in health care. We have the opportunity to take care of “The Greatest Generation.” This was the generation born from 1901 through about 1924. They lived through the Great Depression and served in WWII, or supported the war effort on the home front. These are the elderly who knew how to do without, and knew how to save. These are the people who did the right thing, just because it was the right thing to do.
While these elders are still with us, we still have time to get their stories. What was it like to live through the depression? How did you get by? My mother has told me she thought it was easier doing without during the depression, because no one had anything. You can see the look of pride on her face when she tells people she lived through the depression.
The Greatest Generation was united in the war effort. It was a time when the country was all in agreement about the necessity of the war. Everyone was supporting, serving and praying together, that’s just how they were.
Saving those stories from The Greatest Generation
There is a free Life Story Book on my web site: www.pleasegettoknowme.com – where you will find guidelines on how to write an elder’s story.
Memories of the depression and WWII are more accessible for the elderly because those times were so very emotional. Emotion reinforces a memory. When something emotional happens we tend to:
- Make a conscious decision to remember it.
- Relive the event over and over in our minds.
- Tell others what happened and in so doing hear the story again and again, reinforcing it in our memory.
- Think about the memory, analyze it and even cherish it.
We who are working with these survivors of The Greatest Generation owe it to them to get their stories while we can. Just imagine, one of those Boy Scouts could live to 100, and in 2080 tell his great-grandchildren, he knew someone who served in World War II.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 23, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
GOING GREEN? PLANT A GARDEN AND SAVE THE NEXT GENERATION
The “going green” movement is certainly losing momentum. Students graduating with degrees in Environmental Sciences are no more able to get a job than other professions. No one seems to be able to afford to go green. We have found out how broke the States are, and our local communities are faring no better. No one can afford these bright young people poised to change their communities and the world and make them greener.
Going green, how about starting small? How about encouraging your neighbors to plant a garden. How about staying fit by working in the garden as well as eating better food.
A package of organic seeds costs about $2.50 and will give you better, fresher, healthier veggies than you can find in the fanciest natural grocer. Better yet you planted, watered, weeded and picked it yourself giving you bragging rights. Best of all, no GMO products for your family, now that’s really green.
There is more and more evidence that Monsanto is changing the very DNA of individuals who unwittingly eating their produce from genetically engineered seeds. Turns out the pesticides that are incorporated right into the seeds also get into the cell of the individual eating produce grown from these treated seeds. Not to mention all the animals now fed grains from these treated seeds.
Several years ago I remember hearing on the news the question, “Do people want to know if their food is genetically engineered?” Then the powers that be just decided to do it, all in the name of bigger crops to feed more people.
Now they find that in fact, the crops aren’t bigger using these seeds. The only thing bigger is the profits from Monsanto because they are laughing all the way to the bank.
Yes, for all those young people who pictured themselves creating great gardens on top of public buildings. They went and got the education, because we told them we really wanted to “go green.”
Maybe not so much, maybe they should have gotten degrees in chemistry –can we all say Monsanto – that is probably where the jobs are.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 19, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
THE PAIN OF TYING DOWN THE ELDER – RESTRAINTS IN THE NURSING HOME
(PART II)
For the elder the pain of being restrained is going to be physical as well as psychological. The physical pain comes from:
- Decreased movement causing loss of appetite, sluggish blood flow, constipation from lack of movement, and a drop in blood pressure when standing
- Weakened muscles and bone structure
- Increased risk of developing pressure sores from sitting too much
- Increased risk of swelling in legs
The psychological pain will be from:
- Feeling badly about themselves because they are tied to a chair
- Less social contact with others
- Less participation in activities
- Increase in depression, anxiety and agitation due to the frustration of being tied in a chair
WHY WOULD A HEALTHCARE FACILITY WANT TO RESTRAIN A PERSON?
SAFETY – the nursing homes says they are using the restraint to prevent a fall or aggressive behavior and control the elder, especially the confused elder.
This is totally untrue, the facts are that the reduced use of restraints has resulted in fewer falls, and that in fact, restraints cause more injuries.
Using a restraint for an aggressive behavior demonstrates a lack of understand on the part of the caregiver. Behaviors are a way of communicating an unmet need and so the confused elder “acts out.”
SUBSTITUE FOR UNDERSTAFFING – the facility instead of staffing with enough caregivers to meet the needs of the elders, they resort to the use of restraints to control the elder.
FEAR OF LEGAL LIABILITY – the facility fears a fall that could result in serious injury or the confused elder that wanders from the facility and the possible legal liability.
Once again there is more compelling research that the use of restraints causes more injury then the failure to restrain an elder.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get to Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 18, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
THE PAIN OF TYING SOMEONE DOWN – RESTRAINTS IN THE NURSING HOME
(Part I)
We all knew him, Bob Frank M.D. former director of the emergency department in a large urban hospital. While his life used to be full of “We need you here doctor!” Now his life revolves around the plea to “Sit down Bob.” Over and over all day long in the Alzheimer’s unit where Bob now lives, you can hear the words “Sit down Bob.” No one wants to restrain “Dr. Frank.” and tie him to a chair. How can you tie a doctor, a respected member of the community?
We can all understand why Bob stands up. When something happens, maybe another confused resident calls out, and Dr. Bob wants to respond. Dr. Bob wants to go and help the person crying out “Help, help me I’m falling.” Betty isn’t really falling she just has that sensation due to her dementia and so she calls for help and then Dr. Bob tries to go.
The staff knows Dr. Bob, and knows why he is trying to stand and respond, even though he is now unable to walk without assistance. Bob’s balance has been affected by Alzheimer’s disease and he doesn’t understand that it is unsafe for him to get up without that assistance. But tie Dr. Frank to a chair? No, that just isn’t going to be an option, not in this case.
Why not Bob? Why would that be just too painful for the staff to see, the good doctor tied to a chair? Other people are tied to chairs. Is it that even though Bob has dementia he remains respected and admired for who he was and what he has done. Even though Bob has dementia he still is that doctor in the minds of his caregivers.
Maybe that is the real answer to using restraints. If the caregivers really know the person and care about the person, they just can’t do it.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 16, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
WHY I BLOG – BEST OF THE BLOG – AND MOST READ BLOG POSTS ON THIS SITE
Why Blog? When we have a “Silver Tsunami” coming at us and more and more family members are becoming care givers – the question should be – Why not blog?
Posted on April 27th, 2009 – I still feel the same way two years later.
Many thanks to readers – most read blog posts:
Month after month, the all time most read blog post– over three hundred readers a month find this site through this blog post – so many thanks.
WHEN THE ELDERLY HAVE A SUDDEN ONSET OF CONFUSION IS IT DEMENTIA OR DELIRIUM?
MARCH 18, 2010
NEXT – MOST READ:
FRONTAL LOBE DEMENTIA SO DIFFERENT FROM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
MARCH 2, 2010
GOOD OLD KEDS – BEST SHOES FOR CONFUSED ELDERLY – REALLY
MARCH 18, 2010
HOW TO TALK TO AN ELDERLY CONFUSED PERSON WITH DELUSIONS
AUGUST 31, 2010
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE ELDERLY PERSON’S SKIN THE WAY THE NURSING HOME NURSE WOULD AUGUST 24, 2010
WHEN THE CONFUSED ELDERLY MAN IS SPITTING ALL THE TIME
AUGUST 25, 2009
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 11, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
National Nurses Week 2011 – FIVE TRAITS THAT MAKE A NURSE OR ANYONE ELSE GREAT
I just read an article called the 5 things that make a good nurse. In reading the list I realized these 5 things would be good traits in anyone, especially anyone caring for an elder.
5 – Traits that make a great caregiver:
- Compassion – the ability to really see you’re elder and take action. Whether it is providing pain relief because you know the elder so well that you know when they are agitated they are in pain. Or the caregiver who realizes the elder is upset because they just can’t make any sense out of the environment or their situation, and the caregiver provides a comforting presence. The caregiver that realizes this isn’t what that elder wanted for themselves or expected in their life.
- Empathy – The Oxford Dictionary defines sympathy as sorrow at someone else’s misfortune – however empathy is the ability to share and understand another’s feelings. I remember a day many years ago when I needed to “call-in” to work. Something I rarely did, but it was worth it for the words my Director of Nursing said to me that day that have stayed with me. When I explained that my arthritic knee was acting up to the point that I quite literally couldn’t stand, she said, “My knee hurts for yours.” That was empathy. Instead of saying “I’m so sorry you hurt, she said “I hurt for you.”
- Selflessness – putting someone else and their concerns above your own. The private caregiver who just can’t go home on time because her elder isn’t doing well today. The caregiver who misses meals and hardly dashes away for a bathroom break.
- Self-aware – knowing your strengths and weaknesses is important in a caregiver. No one is great at everything, knowing when you need to call for help doesn’t indicate weakness it shows self-awareness. Knowing when you need to step back and take a break is strength.
- Thirst for knowledge – new ways to care for the elderly are discovered every day. Becoming part of a support group and attending educational opportunities to learn about new approaches for different disease processes, promotes better care. Sharing with other caregivers also rejuvenates the caregiver. A person who is always seeking new information is never a dull person.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
Posted on May 10, 2011 - by Nurse Virginia
NURSES WEEK – 2011 – JOB DESCRIPTION FOR NURSING ASSISTANTS
Who are these people who have chosen to serve and take care of the widow in her distress? Following are typical job descriptions.
Certified Nursing Assistant
I read this job description in the Chicago Tribune in an article about careers: Nursing Assistants provide routine care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming to elderly, convalescent, or disabled patients at a residential-care facility. Employees in this field require short-term on-the-job training and a general knowledge of medicine, psychology, counseling, and clerical duties. Communication, social perception, and time management skills are also desirable.
Yet this is considered an entry-level job in healthcare with maybe, but not always, a high school diploma, and about seventy-five hours of training. For many nursing assistants, this was their entry-level position; for others this is what they are doing by default, because it is the best paying job they can get at the moment. But for still others the solid base of this area of the health care team is the long term career nursing assistant.
They are the key people for the family to get to know. They are the day-to-day caregivers who know the current condition and any issues that need to be addressed. They are the caregivers that you want to communicate special needs, likes, and dislikes, so they can provide the best of care. Even though nursing assistants are probably the lowest paid staff in the organization, they provide 90 percent of the hands-on care.
(Book excerpt from: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance)
I remember reading this in the Trib many years ago, and thinking are they kidding? A little medicine, psychology, time management and yet this is true. Although these are high expectations of an entry level position, these are the skills and knowledge I see every day. The career nursing assistant is all of this and more.
These are the hands that hug the lonely elder, or the person who has just the right words to calm a troubled elder. In celebrating Nurse Week, I celebrate the heart of nursing – the Nursing Assistant.
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
- Help your elder find comfort, relevance and respect no matter how frail he or she is.
Find out why the quality of life depends so much on the family no matter who the direct caregiver may be.
Find out how to have a meaningful visit with your parent when they have dementia.
Testimonial:
Katherine from Wisconsin said "I bought a book for each of my three children because this is what I want them to know if I ever need to be taken care of."
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