Menno’s
Tech
Minutes
August 2011
A Monthly Article Being
Provided To Help Out
With Common Household
Appliances
By Menno Hochstedler
Sound Or Noise?
M
meaning of a wanted message in animal, human, or
electronic communication. In the informative sense,
noise can be used as a signal for you to get your appliance
checked out. So many times we have mechanical devices
that change their sound slightly over their lifetime, that
we might tune out very obvious noise signals they give
us when components are failing.
In a number of cases where the appliance is
almost beyond, and sometimes is beyond repair from
a mechanical or cost standpoint, the comment I hear
the most is: “It was making a noise, then it quit.” And
as for meaning “quit”, either it quit making that noise
and changed its tune to some other noise, or it literally
quit, period.
When you are the one that on a regular basis uses
the appliance that starts making a noise, checking
it out can save you money in the long run. Or if it is
something that won’t make a difference, meaning the
damage is not getting more costly if you continue to use
the appliance, then you are not hurried into making
a choice that is regrettable in the long run.
USINGS FROM
by Maggie Glick
AGGIE
I also enjoy having a window from which I can see
my bird and hummingbird feeders that a nursing home
worker placed there this spring. Once in a while I see
birds at both feeders (sometimes at the same time),
and I'm so glad they have come and found something
to eat or drink.
The aides are really helpful, (including helping me
to properly buckle my bra snap in back) and to remind
me when a special event is coming up, bringing me my
morning and evening medications, and sometimes my
breakfast in a tray, and so much more.
When I first got to Life Care in February, I had to
get used to the idea of living without a bathtub in the
bathroom. But I do get to use the shower or the tub in
the nurses' area here, assisted by an aide, if I register
the day or so before.
No, living in a nursing home isn't Home, but it is
great when you can't take care of yourself anymore.
Page 33
One of the many things you have to get used to in
a nursing home - at least so I found both at Greencroft
in Goshen and here at Life Care Center in LaGrange,
is the sound of people not being quiet at night.
At Greencroft, I would hear G calling "HELP, HELP"
in our hall, loud at night, and once when I was on a
walk (I forget who sponsored the walk) I handed the
blanket I had in my hand and am not sure why I was
carrying it with me, when G yelled, "That's mine. Leave
it here." Though I knew it wasn't hers, I left it at her
demand. The next morning, the blanket was back on
my bed, where I had been using it for months. I still
have the blanket.
A few of the things I enjoy at nursing homes are the
meals (they are good and nutritious), and the games
of Bingo we play, even when I don't win a game. If we
win at Life Care's Bingo games, there's a cart full of
prizes to choose from.
Phone: 260-463-4901 • Fax 888-439-6528 • The Hometown Treasure
The last couple of service training sessions I went
to, benefiting local service technicians, we were told
there is a difference between something sounding
different or it being a noise. There are now appliances
available, which have electronics that can manipulate
electricity or components in such a way as to drive
you “NUTS”. As service technicians or sales staff, we
are never to say that such a machine has anything but
a new sound. In my book, any unwanted sound is a
noise. So as I do sometimes, going to the Internet has
helped define the difference.
Sound: It is composed of a mechanical wave of
pressure that oscillates through a solid, liquid, or gas,
in frequencies and levels that fall within the range of
the listeners ability to hear or feel the vibrations. You
may have sounds that can be comfortable and enjoyable
when they are at a certain level, but become unwanted
and harmful when they exceed certain perimeters,
thus becoming a noise.
Noise: It is a sound that is unwanted, something
that can block, distort, change, or interfere with the