Yesterday I spent an hour and a half with my mentor and the AL residents. We were only able to squeeze in a game of balloon volleyball and food healing talks with them in that short hour and a half since the residents were going out to eat at Nick's that afternoon.

The first 45 minutes consisted of beach volleyball. The AL residents were all circled up and I stood in the middle continuously serving back the balloon to them. It was funny how the women would crack up every time they hit the balloon very hard. Including so, Joe Warren was there with me playing balloon volleyball with them. It still surprises me how a simple activity like this can pump them up.

After balloon volleyball, I shadowed my mentor in food healing talks. We had an insightful conversation about fruits that heal the soul and body. The residents were so funny during this conversation. I could tell they were digging memories up from the past each time we mentioned a different fruit. Some would say, "That fruit is sweet!" or "I LOVE that fruit. I used to eat it all the time!" Cherries, tangerines, avocados, tomatoes, peaches... you name it! A woman named Mary recalled having an apple tree in her backyard. She began a sentence with, "I hope those... those..." and then blanked out. I figured she wanted to say that she hoped squirrels wouldn't eat her apples. Mary then said, "Those things with the furry tails." I wasn't completely sure if she blanked out because of old age or because of her dementia.

Following food healing, I helped some residents get to the dining room for lunch, and some onto the bus for their afternoon outing.

I'm hoping that for my next visit, I can have another great conversation with the AL residents.

Realizations

Last Friday, April 12th, I visited the residents of AL during Happy Hour. Previously, my last visit at Aegis was a downer, but I am happy to report back that this visit restored my hope in pursuing to help these people.

For Happy Hour, residents were entertained by two talented men who sang and performed music for them. I have never seen the residents in such a good mood. They were drinking (which is a little hilarious), dancing, and enjoying themselves. At first, I was a little uncomfortable throwing myself out there to interact with the residents. I watched my mentor Joe dance with a few residents before I finally decided to dance.

I danced with a very adorable man named Clarrence. He was so happy to be up on his feet and moving. I also danced with a wonderful woman, Helen. Even at 97, she can still groove to "Spanish Eyes". (Her eyes were also blue, if I may add). A feeling definitely struck across as I danced with these residents. I felt so much joy in seeing them happy because on regular days, they aren't as upbeat.

I learned an important lesson that day, my purpose. I'm there to bring them happiness... something that is confusing to find with Alzheimer's/Dementia. My participation really makes a difference in their day. But, I'm also beginning to realize that even if I bring them joy and happiness, it's not what I'm searching for.

I had a very insightful conversation with my mentor. It is comforting to know that even though I'm leaning towards a different direction in nursing, I have not disappointed anyone (or myself). Rather more, I'm viewing this in a positive light. I found out that Geriatrics is not for me.

As I complete my mentor hours, I will continue to strive to bring company and happiness to those residents. Even though I don't want to go into geriatrics nursing, it doesn't mean I will stop making a difference in their lives because they sure did make a difference in mine.

I haven't had the chance to update my blog in a while. Since my last post, I've spent another 2 hours towards senior project. Again, I will break my blogs up.

On March 27th, I spent one hour with the residents of Aegis. It was a very quick visit since the residents of AL were taking a scenic drive to Pacifica to see the new tunnel and visit a farm. I helped my mentor load seniors onto the bus. Their excitement was very adorable. They were talking about the animals they wanted to see and it was almost as if I was loading on a bus of elementary school children. (Not to sound disrespectful in any way.) After loading them onto the bus, I spent some time with LN residents. They were very quiet that day and it was a rather more gloomy day to be around them. Many of them were either napping or watching a video on ice-skating. Their quiet days are my bad days. It's the day I dread being there, it's the day I wish there was something more I could do to get them by, it's the day where I question if I even want to pursue Geriatrics Nursing. With those thoughts, I left.

3/26/13

I visited Aegis for 1 hour and 15 minutes today.

It was a very quiet day for the residents in Assisted Living. I spent some time having a good conversation with the residents. We mainly talked about school and the new tunnel that opened up by the devil's slide in Pacifica. The residents were keeping to themselves today, so I decided to leave them be and I visited Life's Neighborhood, the other side of Aegis.

Life's neighborhood was surprisingly very active today. Usually, they are the residents who are quiet and keep to themselves. Today, I was observing them while they played a memory game involving months and numbers. I'm happy to say that they still know what year they are living in. One thing that caught my attention was when Liol, one of the residents, was asked the date of Christmas and he replied with, "October 25th."  I also saw the same woman from my last visit who had been constantly crying for her mother. It shocks me that I find her in the same condition, continuously crying and rambling. Moments like that really sadden me. It reminds me of how debilitating Alzheimer's disease is. Just like the family members of these residents, I'm wishing for a cure for this disease. Hopefully by tomorrow when I visit, the residents will be having a better day.

3/5/13 (pt 2)

After spending some time with the first resident, I decided to spend time with a woman named Delia. She was very confused by her surroundings. I was able to sit her down and I asked her to color with me. We were coloring in some leaf clovers for St. Patrick's Day. She kept saying, "I don' understand what to do." I would then show her how to color and she would copy me. After a few minutes, she would tell me that she didn't know what to do again. This is a perfect example of short-term loss. When I asked her to write a name, she was having difficulty remembering how to write. I would constantly have to show her how to write the letters.

We took a break and decided to play catch. The residents love catch. It was amazing how one minute, Delia claimed that she didn't know how to play, and then the next minute, she was throwing and catching the ball. Following our game of catch, we served tea, coffee, and sandwiches for their daily afternoon snack. I was a little sad when Delia asked me how to get home while I was serving her some snacks. (When residents ask questions like that, we are advised to stay away from the subject.) I replied by telling her to relax and eat.

It was a busy afternoon for the LN residents and a very insightful one for me. It's interesting being exposed to all the different stages/episodes of Alzheimer's, but as always, it is sad. I will try to upload the picture that Delia and I colored.

3/5/13

I visited Aegis for 2 hours today. I will break up my hours by blog.

I spent my time in Life's Neighborhood today instead of Assisted Living. For those who don't remember, Life's Neighborhood is for the more challenged residents with deeper stages of Alzheimer's. The best way to describe these residents is that they are in an elementary school behavior level. They have their good and bad days and need assistance the most.

I was very enticed by one resident. I decided to stick with her for the first hour. She caught my attention because of her behavior. Once I walked in, I spotted a woman sitting in a wheelchair crying. The staff said that she has been doing this every single day for the past two months. She was constantly crying for her mommy, literally. Rambling on and on, she'd either ask for her mother or change the subject. At times, I'd be able to catch a conversation with her for a few seconds and then I'd lose her again to the crying. At one point I heard her say that she was getting married, and then a few seconds later, she said she was tired, very tired. I can't express how heartbreaking it is to see her cry for no reason. However, that is one of the many side effects of the disease. 

Hang Man

Instead of hosting an activity, I observed my mentor and the techniques he used to host a 2 hour game of Hangman. Yes, it was very tedious at times, but altogether fun. My mentor had the residents choose topics and it was pretty hilarious watching the residents get active and participate. Whenever a new word was put on the board, Joe would ask for vowels and the residents would be shouting, "I...E...A...Y!" (Funny how they considered "Y" as a vowel.) The residents guessed words from numerous topics ranging from government, all the way to topics like traveling. At times they would give up, but in the end they always guessed the word.

I'll be seeing my mentor again next week and we discussed that I will host activities then.