The Senior Home is operated by a THE LITTLE SERVANT SISTERS TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, an organization of Religious Roman Catholic Sisters that has been in the United States for more than ninety years operating schools, skilled nursing, and senior homes.
Pre-Mornings: I was surprised to find someone coming into my room in the middle of the night or pre-dawn. Asking about that, I was told there is a required bed check of the resident. (Actually, there may be more than one check, but I can’t tell because the visits and I sleep through them.) Morning & Breakfast: I usually wake up about 6:00 a.m., do the usual morning ablutions, make-up my bed and dress. Normally takes little under an hour, so there is time to do some reading before breakfast which is called at 7:45 a.m. At breakfast, I’m seated with two other men. At my table, there has been a little conversation so far and some has been even difficult to at times, one party has eaten hastily and left before I get there, the other is a new resident like myself that I’ve been able to draw out by bringing up our similar “war stories”. I need a walking cane and the other two table mates are on walkers. Most of the residents are on walkers or wheelchairs and few are on canes and very few are without some sort of walking aid. There are many aides in the dining room some are assisting the kitchen help with food distribution, some feeding or otherwise helping residents eat. The menu is pretty standard for breakfast, several types of toasted pieces of bread or muffins, two types of hot cereal, scrambled eggs, bacon or morning sausage at times, pancakes at times, French toast at times, etc. While servings are standard according to daily posted menu’s, there is also posted a good selection of substitute food items available. There are all types of beverages readily available. Again, the staff is friendly and accommodating. There is no grumbling or displeasure shown when a change is asked for or request for extras or condiments or any other assistance. Many in the staff are multilingual which helps residents not verse in the English language. Special dishes are served to some residents according to medical needs. The medical staff will distribute and supervise medications as well as take routine blood pressure tests.
From about 9:15-11:15 a.m. there is daily Catholic Mass celebrated in the Chapel. This is an important event for me personally and was partially key for my selecting this particular assisted living residence. For those residents not wishing to attend Mass, they can rest or watch television or walk or do a host of other posted events from exercise classes, coffee socials, basking, library, napkin folding, outside shopping, etc.
During the above times, laundry staff will go into rooms to collect bags of laundry and/or return washed laundry. This tasking is done in a very expert and efficient manner. The washing and drying machinery is updated, swift and professionally operated. It is probable to have laundry collected and returned on the same day. Referring to other important needs, there is a household maintenance staff that provides the most cleanliness of places one can hope for. Every part of this building is made clean and sanitary on a daily routine basis as well as multiple immediate cleaning needs. Mechanical maintenance such as plumbing, electrical, heavy moving is done quickly and professionally by staff or outside the contract. There is a modern and utilized public announcing system which makes announcements concerning where hasty help, event happenings as well as public safety procedures. There are outside doors that are regularly monitored, and detailed visitor signs in sheets and resident leaving/returning records.
Midday Lunch: Lunch is taken at 12:30 p.m. Selections specific to lunch are as varied as shown above. Menus are posted daily and the routine for residence preferences are always available. The staff is as diligent as mentioned above. The afternoon is filled with a variety of many posted activities like bingo, arts and crafts, circle/table things and games, movies, world conversation, music movements, world travel discussions, professional entertainment, word fun, sensory games, jeopardy/wheel of fortune, walking, basking and other activities or just watching personal room television or even plain relaxing or napping.
Evening Supper: Supper is at 5:45 p.m. Again, selections are specific to supper are as varied as shown above. Menus are posted daily with change preferences readily available. There are some activities posted for six and seven o’clock hours. Personally, after supper, I like kick back, relax and watch room T.V. until about 10:00 p.m. when I turn-in.
Writer Notes: I have been here about two weeks so many of the above matters have not been personally undertaken by me. However, many event matters were visually verified as used by other residents. Another extant matter of importance to me in the selection of this residence had to do with my wife of fifty-nine years and who is stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease and is in the skilled nursing section of this building and that I am able to be with her as often as I desire.
