Nursing Home Lessons

Tonight my family visited my Grandma in the nursing home on our way to my aunt and uncle's in northeast Ohio. I'll be honest, nursing homes kinda make me uncomfortable. It's difficult to know what to do or say to those who have begun to loose and say random things. I also can't handle the smell. I do, though, love going through at Christmas and singing carols up and down the halls. Really puts things in perspective for ya. I watched one of the nurses care for a woman and I wanted to just applaud him right there. Those people are amazing and get no credit for doing such an unwanted job. It's not real glamourous to wash people and clean their beds after they've soiled them. I don't think we give them enough credit. I know I couldn't do it. Geriatrics is not my cup of tea, no sir. I find that everytime I visit a nursing home, I leave feeling blessed and having been reminded of how lucky I am to not be living in a place like that. Those people are often very lonely. I hope I don't have to be put in a nursing home some day. So, ya, take the time to go visit loved ones in nursing homes and you'll find that you're not only brightening their day, but yours as well.