Get a job!

Approaching her 98th birthday, a darling woman I love to pieces has been spending much of her time lately in a state of anxiety. Perhaps most stressful for her, she who invested her life in doing things for others is now stuck in a comfortable-but-cumbersome gerichair recliner, unable to expend her restless energy on any useful task.  “What do I do now?” has become her constant question – one that is not satisfied with “just rest.” She does not want to “just rest.” She wants to get busy.
 
Fortunately, the Life Enrichment specialists at Care-age of Brookfield are always on the lookout for ways to enhance the lives of individual residents – which means, for those who simply cannot relax, creating jobs. Recently, for instance, the incredibly creative Kelly gave our beloved friend the job of ripping colored paper into small pieces. It took her hours to complete the task. And she was happily engaged every moment, at least in part because this was not simply busy work; the paper is being used by multiple residents to create collages for gifting or displaying in their rooms.
 
This outstanding video reminded me recently how wonderful such special, personalized attention can be for the very elderly:

​If you’re searching for a great nursing home, keep an eye out for Activities staffers who provide this level of personalized attention. It can help ensure a truly peaceful retirement for your loved one, especially if he or she is determined to remain useful until the end of time.