REFLECTIONS
REFLECTIONS : WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY ? AUTHOR Teresita Bacani-Oropilla , MD
During the almost a year of isolated living in the Age of COVID-19 , families , friends and curious people asked their loved ones who were confined to nursing homes and assisted living facilities , the question , “ What do you do all day ?”
It was heartbreaking to not be able to visit spouses , parents , grandparents , etc . and share momentous events such as births , weddings and birthdays . The confined were lonely , some bewildered by this sudden withdrawal of what once were ordinary closeness and contacts . Besides , they had heard that on the “ outside ” world , their friends and relatives also died without the presence of family in hospitals , to prevent spread of the scourge .
Why revisit such painful memories now ? So as not to forget and actually savor the beginning of a freedom that we seem to be achieving at this time ( March 2021 ). Thankful is the word we should concentrate on . We want to get rid of “ flies in our ointments ” as in loneliness , distress , unexpected deaths . But , back to the original question , “ What do we do all day long ?”
Most residents of assisted living and nursing homes are believed to be impaired physically and / or mentally enough that they are unable to take care of themselves “ solo .” Mentally , these range from those in memory care who cannot distinguish persons , places or time , to others , despite age and illness , who are still “ sharp as a tack ” but physically frail . The latter take care of family business , social and financial affairs as from an office away from home .
Physically , they range from totally mobile , to somewhat impaired oldsters with collapsed vertebrae , non-working hips and knees , or oxygen deprived folks perpetually connected by tube to monstrous O2 tanks or the more modern machine in a bag slung over their shoulders .
Some are in wheelchairs , most on rollators or flexible walkers , because of poor balance . A misstep or two could cause a fall that could lead to a “ short cut ” syndrome ( an invented name ). A fall , an ambulance to a hospital , X-rays , fracture of the skull or limbs , anesthesia , surgery of delicate osteoporotic bones , successful recovery from anesthesia , discharge to rehab . The other path is to have pneumonia , further disability and perpetual rest in peace .
For those who survive mishaps in a protected environment , residents have a choice of prepared activities suited to their level of functioning . Allowed to use modern means of communications , they can be helped to use their phones , FaceTime and Zoom by activity personnel .
Many residents are hard of hearing , so communication between residents and even staff can become comical at times . Take into consideration that personal , medical and nutritional needs take twice as much time , so the days roll by quickly like clockwork .
The days of isolation had casualties in terms of loss of memory , increased depression and decreased physical fitness . Like fields without rain , the crops wither , fade away , and die .
May spring and summer rains of hope , medical knowledge and peaceful charity drench us into fruitful productivity . That is what everybody should try to do day by day ! Dr . Bacani-Oropilla is a retired pediatrician and child psychiatrist .
MAY 2021 21