O to be an Ostrich #atozchallenge #elderlyissues

beautiful and sleek

pulled  by the years

wrinkly neck

As women age, our eyes have lines, our hands are wrinkled and our necks sag.

So unlike the ostrich with the beautiful long neck.

The elderly need to have a good overview of their health.

But obsessing on their diseases can be a greater stress than help.

I set daily or weekly goals for each client. I don’t always tell them what they are.

For Mr. Y its 45 minutes of exercise, 2 hours out of the house and nutritional meals.

For Ms. C it’s sitting up for one hour each day. Out of bed for that time is a bonus. Fluids are a must so I will sweeten with honey if need be to hydrate her cells.

Mr. J our focus was to engage his mind with music and conversation when he was awake and to keep him pain free.

Even when we don’t get outdoors (because of the weather), I take Mr. Y on journeys through books and photos.

I’m not obsessed with Ms. C’s wrinkles but her hands still remember how to make those tiny circles as they moisturize. I obsess on reminding her muscles what their jobs are. Even tiny motions remind the Parkinson’s muscles what to do.

Mr. J spends the last few days of life remembering everything good instead of worrying about death.

When we care for the elderly we should not stick our necks in the sand like the ostrich.

We should establish an objective as caregivers.

If I am caring for family it helps me focus on a plan. Our parents/ clients sense that we have not given up.

Care giving is not an easy job. We need to remember we cannot do it alone.

We may not plan laughter into our daily objectives but it sure has a healing properties down to the cellular level.

 

Today is the letter “O” for the A to Z challenge.

 

What are you obsessing on during this Covid thing???

 

 

 

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