Listening to our Seniors

Yesterday I read an editorial titled “Seniors have so much to offer. Let’s listen, learn”. This reminded me of a program that I ran at Island View when I was there. I had partnered with the grade 10 history teacher and he would bring his students over to interview our residents.

Each time they came to visit the room would be filled with excitement. The students would sit and ask questions then listen with such interest as the residents would give them a firsthand account of what it was like to live through what they had just read about. Each time it would be a different period in Canadian history.

Len grew up in Saskatchewan and the students loved his stories about growing up out west and what it was like during the depression. Orville would teach them the ADHS cheer in Latin. There were also a few residents who were able to talk about growing up in Europe during World War II.

One student stands out in my memory. The teacher had called and said he had 1 student who was going through a hard time and she might be overwhelmed when they arrived. I said leave it with me. I then talked to a resident who had been a school principal. When the students arrived the resident discreetly took the student to a quiet corner and they sat the entire time and just talked. Each time the students came back they were able to sit together, and she had a friend she could talk to.

When I was growing up my Great Grandmother, Great Aunt and Great Great Aunt lived in the apartment above my house. I spent many hours with them drinking tea and learning how to knit, crochet, sew and listening to stories. I also learned how to bake and quilt from my Grandmother on the many visits to the farm. And I have a very vivid memory sitting in my other Grandmother’s kitchen while she taught me about fractions.  

My children were lucky to have their grandparents close while they were growing up and if you ask them, I’m sure they can tell you many stories about the things they learned from them.

I have been so blessed to work with seniors the past 20 years and not a day goes by without me learning something new from them. It’s time for us as a country to learn from our seniors and fix the system that we put them in. It is going to be expensive to revamp the system that is so badly broken, but the time has come to make our seniors a priority. The pandemic has taken a problem that everyone who works in long term care has known about for a long time and made the public aware of it. Now it is time to do something about it.

Shopping in Our New World

As I sit here, I wonder what the future of retail will look like. Will we always have to limit the number of shoppers in a store? Are face masks going to become the normal for all of us? Will we become accustomed to shopping online?

I drove through town yesterday and noticed that the clothing stores on main street were open for business. I didn’t go in, but I assume the people working in the stores were wearing face masks. Each customer was maybe asked to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer but then what. Are you allowed to touch the clothes? Try on the clothes? Then what happens to all those clothes? Don’t they have to be sanitized in some way? I also find it strange that we have been able all along to go to Giant Tiger, Walmart and No Frills and buy clothes. I wonder who else has touched them before me?

These are the thoughts going through my head as I try to figure out how I can conduct my business safely. I assume I won’t be allowed to set up my shop in Retirement and Long Term Care homes for a long time yet. So what do I do in the mean time. There are still many people out there who are looking for the types of clothes I sell. I am trying to figure out how I can help everyone who needs these clothes get them.

I think I will have to become more of a personal shopper where I pull some items I think my customers would want and deliver them, (from a safe distance) and allow them to look and try on. Then whatever isn’t purchased I will have to bring back and steam them and leave them to sit for a period of time before they can be returned into my inventory.

For right now I will try to help everyone to safely get whatever articles of clothing they need and hope that I will be able to provide a safe shopping experience.

Stay safe everyone

Spring Trilliums

When I was working at Island View we hosted many events that were a collaboration between the marketing and activities departments. One fall event that we had was a walk through the Arnprior Grove’s Old Growth Forest. There was a group that drove themselves there that were all prospects and I drove our bus with residents who wanted to attend the walk as well.

I had contacted an expert to talk about different aspects of the Grove while everyone walked the trail. One resident was Mary. She was 100 years old at the time and when we returned to Island View I asked Mary if she enjoyed her walk. She said yes but “that man wouldn’t stop talking so I could just listen to the trees”. I said that I could take her back another time, but she said no you are too busy.

Well a few days later we had one of those beautiful, sunny, crisp fall days. I called Mary and said let’s go. The two of us drove back to The Grove and walked in. She kept looking up at the sky and saying look and the colors. The sky was that amazing clear dark blue with the colorful leaves on the trees. I took a number of pictures and then we sat and listened to the trees. I printed the pictures I had taken and took them to her a few days later. I told her, in the spring we can go back when the trilliums are blooming. Her reply was “that is a bit ambitious”.

Sadly Mary passed away that winter and we never did get the chance to go and see the trilliums, but every spring when the trilliums bloom, I am reminded of Mary and the time we spent together listening to the trees.

At this time I am missing these opportunities that are part of every day working with seniors.

Nurse Appreciation Week during COVID-19

I want to thank all of the nurses and nursing staff who are working during this difficult time. As I see the news about long term care and retirement homes I am reminded how hard the nursing staff works. It is very difficult on a “normal” day to keep these homes running smoothly and with COVID-19 it just got so much harder. I don’t think the general public really understands how hard your job is.

I picture a floor with dementia patients and 1 tests positive for the virus. Now your job has become impossible. How do you explain to someone who doesn’t understand or remember, that they have to stay in their room? Every time you turn around they are in someone else’s room touching things talking too close because really what is social distancing? (This is a new term that 6 months ago no one had ever used!) They don’t understand and are probably afraid of the people in protective gear. They may never have seen someone wearing masks and gowns or if they have it’s not a pleasant memory.

I read a statistic that has stayed with me, 80% of people over 80 have some form of dementia. That is over and above the number of people in these homes that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. All of the staff in these homes are being asked to do an impossible task. They are working in homes that are filled to capacity and they have to try to keep everyone apart.

For the residents their routine has been changed. The people they once recognized are now wearing masks. They no longer have visits from family and every time they leave their room someone is telling them they can’t. I don’t think most of the public understand how hard the job is. They wonder why the staff can’t just isolate the residents who get infected. Unless you have worked or spent time in one of these homes you just can’t understand what an impossible job the staff have.

If you thought your job was a challenge before it has become a whole lot harder. Please take some time to recharge and relax. Remember you have to take care of yourself so you can take care of others. And know that there are people out here who admire you for all you are doing.

How to Get the Message Out

When your loved one needs help where do you turn? There are many services available to seniors and family members but how do you find them? Although I was working at a retirement home at the time, I was still overwhelmed when my father had a stroke. I had no idea where to look for help and felt that I was left to my own devices to try and find my parents the services they needed.

Since then I have purchased my own business and now attend a number of health fairs each year. I have met many people who are in the business of helping seniors and I think we all have a similar problem. Getting our information to the people who need it.

I have a website, Facebook page and Instagram where I post information on a regular basis. When we are traveling doing shows at homes I email information and posters to each of the homes 1 month and again 2 weeks prior to our visit. I post our schedule on the website and on Facebook as well. Then when we are at the home we will always have at least 1 family member say “oh I didn’t know you were going to be here today”. I’m sure I am not the only one who hears this so now my question how can I get my message out?

I’m going to keep plugging away trying to find new places to advertise but in the meantime I do recommend 1 website that does have lots of information for our area. Champlainhealthline.ca

Mothers Day

This is my fifth mothers day without my mother. Not a day goes by that I don’t have at least one moment that brings back a memory of her. Yesterday I was talking to my Aunt Brenda and we talked about how mom always had food and drinks ready for who ever showed up at the house. Their house was where you went when you were happy, sad, had some news to share. It was the center of so many peoples lives. We agreed that we no longer feel in touch with everyone since they’ve been gone. My parents were definitely the glue that held our family together.

When I worked at Island View, every Mothers Day I would have a tea for families to come and celebrate with their mothers. My daughter Sydney helped me and we would get to spend some time together as well, setting up serving and cleaning up. We were given a great privilege to be part of the residents families and see into their lives a little bit. I must say occasions like mothers day make me miss my job there….just a little!!

Although Mothers Day will be different for many this year, with social distancing I hope everyone is able to show their love to their mothers anyway. Find a way to spend some time from a distance and keep them safe.

A Little Comfort in Uncertain Times

Yesterday I received a phone call from a family member. Her mother fell and broke her arm and she didn’t know where she could get some clothes that would be easy for her to wear. As we chatted I filled a bag with items that I thought may help her out. Front closing bras, loose fitting blouse, pull on elastic waist pants, and a zipper front duster. Not really sure what would work but gave her many options. I then delivered them to her driveway. I hope that they will make her recovery a little bit easier.

I’m not a front line worker or even an essential worker. But if you need clothing for a specific need right away I am here to provide what ever help I can. It’s not much but at least I feel I can provide a little comfort in a time of uncertainty.

What is adaptive clothing?

The first time I talk to a customer quite often they ask me, what is adaptive clothing. They usually get a notice from the staff at the home where their loved on is living telling them that they require adaptive clothing. Unless you work with people who need adaptive clothing you probably have no idea what they are talking about.

At Smart Care Clothing we spend the time explaining what it is and how it will benefit their loved one. Today I made a video to show how the clothes work and I hope it takes away some of the confusion.

Why I Love my Job

For my first blog I have decided to share an overview of what Smart Care Clothing is all about. We are more than just a clothing store. Our number 1 purpose is to bring a safe shopping experience to the residents of retirement and long-term care homes. We try to bring some independence to people who quite often feel like they no longer have control over their own lives. We also host fashion shows at many of the homes. These fashion shows bring joy, comradery and for many confidence.

At one of our homes we had just started the fashion show when a gentleman and a staff member were walking past. The activities manager asked if he wanted to model for us. He just smiled so she looked at our racks and grabbed a men’s bathrobe. (This bathrobe was bright yellow and Cheryl and I had a bet on whether we would ever sell it!) He got a big smile on his face, put it on and walked “the runway” with some spins and poses. After the fashion show the staff told us he had dementia and was non-verbal and it was the first time in a long time that they had seen him so happy.

 My days are filled with stories like this and this is why I do what I do. I am missing each of our customers and to be honest I am afraid and worried. They are in such a vulnerable situation and I hope when all of this is over we can start to rethink our entire healthcare system to make it much safer for the residents and staff.

Stay home and stay safe